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Tourism in Asia to bounce back
Manila, June 18: The World Tourism Organisation has said that it expects tourism in Asia to bounce back by the end of the year despite being battered by SARS fears, the Iraq war and last year`s Bali bombings.
Manila, June 18: The World Tourism Organisation has said that it expects tourism in Asia to bounce back by the end of the year despite being battered by SARS fears, the Iraq war and last year's Bali bombings.
"We expect the second part of the year to be positive and tourism will be back on track in the fourth quarter," said Francesco Frangialli, World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General.
He was in Manila to attend a five-day WTO meeting of more than 100 delegates and tourism officials from at least 18 countries in the region.
Fears of catching severe acute respiratory syndrome during travel caused a 30 per cent to 40 per cent drop in reservations in the region this year, compared with last year, even damaging tourism industries in countries in the region that had no cases of local transmission.
But Frangialli noted that the World Health Organisation has declared the disease on the wane.
He said Asia's tourism started to recover after the end of the Iraq war, but that the rebound was delayed by the SARS outbreak. "But the recovery will be taking place before the end of the year. This is for sure," Frangialli said.
Asia saw an 8.3 per cent jump in tourist arrivals last year compared with 2001, despite the continuing effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; last October's bombings on Bali that killed 202 people; and the region's lackluster economic performance, Frangialli said. Bureau Report
He was in Manila to attend a five-day WTO meeting of more than 100 delegates and tourism officials from at least 18 countries in the region.
Fears of catching severe acute respiratory syndrome during travel caused a 30 per cent to 40 per cent drop in reservations in the region this year, compared with last year, even damaging tourism industries in countries in the region that had no cases of local transmission.
But Frangialli noted that the World Health Organisation has declared the disease on the wane.
He said Asia's tourism started to recover after the end of the Iraq war, but that the rebound was delayed by the SARS outbreak. "But the recovery will be taking place before the end of the year. This is for sure," Frangialli said.
Asia saw an 8.3 per cent jump in tourist arrivals last year compared with 2001, despite the continuing effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks; last October's bombings on Bali that killed 202 people; and the region's lackluster economic performance, Frangialli said. Bureau Report