Asia Pacific Travel to reach $4.6T in 2010

Travel and tourism are expected to bring $4.6 trillion a year to the Asia Pacific region by 2010 despite the threat of a U.S. recession, according to a study released Wednesday by the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
PATA’s study, which covers 40 destinations that include the U.S., Canada, Chile, Mexico and the Pacific islands, says total arrival numbers to the Asia Pacific are projected to exceed 460 million by 2010, up from 347 million in 2006.
The study places mainland China as the region’s top destination by 2010, with 35.3 percent of the market share and 160 million international arrivals, followed by the U.S. at 56 million arrivals, Macau at 38 million and Hong Kong at 35 million.
John Koldowski, director of PATA’s Strategic Intelligence Center said hotel and resort development across the region also contributes to future tourism growth. Chinese-ruled Macau, a former Portuguese colony, overtook the Las Vegas Strip as the world’s top gambling center in 2006.