Tourists arrival in Asia to post strongest growth

 A report ‘Tourism Towards 2030’ prepared by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) predicts strongest growth of tourism in Asia by 2030, but the government here is still clueless about the importance of tourism in the economy, said tourism entrepreneurs.

According to ‘Tourism Towards 2030’, the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide is expected to increase by an average of 3.3 per cent a year over the period 2010 to 2030.

Over time, the rate of growth will gradually slow, from 3.8 per cent in 2012

to 2.9 per cent in 2030 but will increase in base numbers. In absolute numbers, international tourist arrivals will increase by some 43 million a year, compared with an average increase of 28 million a year during the period 1995–2010.

“The government has not been able to bring any special packages and programmes for country’s promotion as one of the best tourist destination,” they said. “The budget has mentioned tourism as a priority sector but has not included any new programmes for its promotion,” said president of Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Pabitra Kumar Karki.

By region, the strongest growth will be seen in Asia and the Pacific, where arrivals are forecast to increase by 331 million to reach 535 million in 2030.

“The increase in arrivals to Asia can benefit us but for it the government must be prepared to create an environment that will encourage investments in the sector and ensure security arrangements for tourists,” Karki said. Entrepreneurs are hopeful that new aircraft of NAC will help bring quality number of tourists from the regional market.

source: the himalayan times,24 July 2013