Bangkok top destination for Chinese

BANGKOK, 24 June 2016: Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya  rank among the top 10 destinations for Chinese tourists this year in Asia Pacific, according to MasterCard Asia Pacific Destinations Index 2016.

According to the index, released earlier this week, China will continue to contribute the largest share of tourists to Asia Pacific in 2016.

It estimates that 50.4 million tourists from China will visit destinations across Asia Pacific this year, making up 15.7% of all international overnight arrivals in the region, it said.

This year, Chinese travellers are also expected to spend USD45.3 billion in Asia Pacific destinations, up 18.2%.

China was the sixth biggest contributor of tourists to Asia Pacific in 2009 (5.8% share of the total Asia Pacific international overnight arrivals). It has been the top supplier since 2012, when it had a 9.8% market share. It has retained that position since with a 15.7% share driven by 25.9% compounded average annual growth rate from 2009 to 2016.

MasterCard’s Global Products & Solutions, Asia Pacific executive vice president, Matthew Driver, said the mix of tourists in key Asia Pacific destination has changed significantly reflecting the economic rise of China and other emerging Asian economies.

“The impact of the economic transformation of China and specifically the rise in disposable incomes is the biggest driver of tourism growth globally.”

This growth is very positive for the Asia Pacific tourism industry and there remains a huge opportunity for industry players to tap into it and benefit from it, he added.

This year, Bangkok will…