The Asia Pacific region was a key engine for global tourism in 2014 and China in turn was the main driving force of tourism in Asia Pacific, according to the green paper of Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS) .
International tourism recorded a 5% increase, with the northern hemisphere maintaining stronger growth, according to World Tourism Organization reports. In the first eight months of 2014, the global total of overnight visitor arrivals topped 781million, 36 million more than the same period in 2013. Growth by region was 8% for the Americas, 5% for Asia Pacific and 4% for Europe.
According to the CASS green paper, China had the largest tourism trade in the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for 44.2% of the regional total, growing at an annual average of 6.2% from 1995 to 2012. It also led the region in international tourism revenue, equivalent to 41.6% of the regional total, with average annual growth at 6.4% from 1995 to 2012.
International tourism revenue outside the Asia-Pacific region had a high annual growth rate of 5.6%, reflecting the close ties of Asia Pacific with other regions in the world. China boasting the highest growth rate in the world maintains even closer links with all global tourism markets, the paper points out.(Translation by David)
