Submitted by Betsy Cooper, International Editor
According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2016/2017—it was prepared by IPK International on behalf of ITB Berlin—all indices point to substantial growth in outbound travel by Asians. Some highlighted items from the Trends Report:
- Asians traveled more than ever so far this year, with a surge in trips to destinations within the region and including many more beach holidays. China was once again the growth driver. After a double-digit rise in international trips this year, the outlook remains strong for 2017.
- The Asian economy continued to grow well in 2016 and is expected to maintain on a solid growth path, according to figures from the ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich.
- After GDP growth of 4.8 percent in 2015, the region is forecast to grow by 4.6 percent in 2016 and also in 2017, slowing to a 4.4 percent increase in 2018.
- In China, fiscal impulses will continue to generate annual economic growth rates of about 6 percent, but Japan and South Korea will be held back by low growth in international trade, according to the ifo experts.
- Outbound travel by Asians grew by11 percent in the first eight months of 2016, according to World Travel Monitor® figures.
- There was a very strong 14 percent rise in trips to destinations within Asia and an 11 percent increase in travel to the Americas.
- The number of trips to Europe dropped, however, by one percent between January and August 2016.
- China was the driving force for growth with an 18 percent rise in outbound trips (excluding to Hong Kong and Macao).
- South Korea also performed very well in the 2016 measuring period with an 11 percent rise in international travel.
ASIAN OUTBOUND TRAVEL TRENDS
January through August 2016
- Holidays, which account for an overwhelming 81 percent of all outbound trips by Asians, increased by 11 percent over the first eight months of 2016.
- There was a healthy 7 percent increase in international business trips, and a strong 12 percent rise in the number of visits to family and friends (VFR) and other leisure trips abroad.
- Asians are clearly going on more sun & beach holidays, which grew by 20 percent between January and August 2016, according to World Travel Monitor® figures.
- There was also good growth for countryside trips (+15 percent) and city trips (+8 percent) but the number of touring holidays increased by only 2 percent.
ASIAN OUTBOUND TRAVEL TRENDS
January through August 2016
Type of Holiday
Rolf Freitag, IPK International founder and president, commented: “This year’s boom in Asian outbound travel, especially by the Chinese, is remarkable. Moreover, we can observe an important long-term trend. Asians are starting to go on fewer sightseeing trips taking in several countries. Instead, many of them dream of relaxing on sun & beach holidays. In other words, they are gradually becoming ‘normal holidaymakers’ like in Western countries.”
The social-demographic profile of Asian outbound travelers reflects this trend towards more short-haul holidays within Asia. They are mostly relatively young:
- About 38 percent of Asians taking international trips are aged between 15-34.
- Another 49 percent are aged 35-54.
- Just 13 percent are aged over 55, according to World Travel Monitor® figures.
The proportion of older international travelers is much higher in Europe and North America. Asian outbound travelers are on average also slightly better educated and better off than their counterparts in Europe and North America.
Against this very positive background, the outlook for Asian outbound travel remains good. IPK International predicts a 6 percent rise in Asian outbound trips in 2017, based on its Travel Confidence Index which measures travel intentions for the following year.
