PATA AT APEC TOURISM WORKING GROUP MEETING

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Tourism Working Group met in Ayutthaya, Thailand, November 20-22, to discuss Pacific Asia tourism in the wake of the September 11 attacks and to consult with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the World Tourism Organization and the World Travel & Tourism Council.

Officials cited the limited duration of the impact on the industry of previous events such as the Gulf War in 1991 and terrorist attacks in Luxor in 1997. The group noted that, as a result of substitution effects and other factors, the immediate impacts of Sept. 11 varied widely across the region and between sectors of the tourism industry. Falls in tourism arrivals in the period since Sept. 11 ranked from a few percent in some APEC-member economies, such as Thailand, to 10 percent in Singapore and up to 21 percent in Chinese Taipei.

The group said they anticipate that tourism flows would return to their long-term growth path once consumer confidence in key source markets is re-established, probably during 2002.

APEC TWG officials also welcomed the implementation of measures to strengthen security, both in-flight and on the ground. "Traveller safety remains a key component for a sustainable recovery in international tourism," the group stated. "Steps need to be taken to ensure that inconvenience experienced by travellers as a result of enhanced security measures is minimised through the application of technology and investment in supporting infrastructure."

The officials discussed another key lesson, post-Sept.11: the absence of effective measures to assess the impact on the tourism industry. According to the group, "Data on the industry remains piecemeal, often available only after lengthy delays, and generally does not allow assessment of overall economic impacts on the industry or the economy as a whole." APEC TWG programmes such as the Tourism Information Network are working to serve this need.