|
Asia
Pacific markets will continue to witness steady growth in outbound travelers, led by a significant increase in travelers from China and Malaysia
according to the results of MasterIndex of Travel report released by MasterCard
Worldwide today.
The forecast revealed that outbound travel for Hong Kong is predicted to show a
significant jump in year-on-year growth from a less-optimistic 3% forecasted six
months ago to an impressive 15 %. Both Malaysia and China are likely to follow close
behind with double-digit year-on-year growth at 12.5%.
“The continuing strength in the growth of outbound travel in
Asia Pacific further reinforces our view that personal travel is being entrenched as an
integral part of the lifestyles of the expanding middle class in the
region,” said Dr. Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, economic advisor to MasterCard Worldwide in
Asia Pacific.
Malaysia is forecasted to continue to take the lead in the number of outbound travelers.
Some 22.07 million Malaysians are expected to travel overseas in the months ahead. Key
markets that would benefit from the continued increase in Malaysians travelling overseas
would include Singapore, China, Indonesia and Japan. Forecasted to follow closely is
China, with some 18.96 million outbound travelers expected to most likely
visit Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, USA and Japan for personal travel and Hong Kong,
Singapore and Japan for business travel.
The following chart shows the MasterIndex of Travel forecast for outbound travel for the
second half of 2006.
|
Outbound Travelers:
Forecast for the 2nd Half of 2006 |
Year-on-year
Growth |
| Australia |
2.67 million |
5.5% |
| China |
18.96 million |
12.5% |
| Hong Kong |
3.25 million |
15% |
| Indonesia |
2.44 million |
6% |
| Japan |
9.44 million |
3.8% |
| Korea |
5.78 million |
9% |
| Malaysia |
22.07 million |
12.5% |
| New Zealand |
0.96 million |
2.3% |
| Philippines |
0.93 million |
4.5% |
| Singapore |
2.67 million |
4.8% |
| Taiwan |
4.42 million |
5.3% |
| Thailand |
1.59 million |
6.7% |
See
other recent news regarding:
MasterCard,
Research,
Survey,
Tourism
|
