In 2022, international tourist arrivals showed a significant recovery, surpassing 100 million. The Asia Pacific region proved to be a firm favourite for international travellers, with over 360 million international tourist arrivals in 2019. However, due to the global pandemic and border closures, international tourist arrivals in Asia Pacific plummeted to less than 60 million in 2020 and further to 25 million in 2021.
International Tourism
While Europe remains the leading destination for many travelers, the Asia-Pacific region is steadily gaining appeal for prospective vacationers. The tourism industry is booming and contributes significantly to the GDP of many Asia-Pacific countries. China not only leads the travel and tourism GDP contribution, it is also hugely popular among travelers. In 2018, China received the most international tourists from any Asia-Pacific country.
Asia Pacific Tourism
Tourism remains crucial to many unique economies in the Asia-Pacific region. As such, countries in the region have launched initiatives to attract domestic and international tourists. These initiatives include increasing air travel frequency and expanding tour packages and possibilities to various destinations. Countries such as India and Sri Lanka have also made it easier to obtain visas and even offered visa-free services, presumably to encourage international visits. These initiatives appear to have been successful, and it is no surprise that several Asia-Pacific cities have made it into the world’s top city rankings for overnight stays.
