Recommend December 2013 - (Page 56)
a sia / s o uth p aci f i c
ASIA
& THE
SOUTH
PACIFIC
in the
rearview mirror
This past year, Asia and
the South Pacific saw
some game-changing
moves come into play-
moves that may lure more
visitors come 2014.
sergio ortiz
As far as travel to Asia is concerned, it's tricky to look back on the
past year because the continent is so varied, eclectic and baffling
with growth and mesmerizing new destinations. Projects and
developments ranging from the modest to the ultra-luxurious seem
to sprout almost overnight, while the number of visitors flocking to all
corners of this vast land appears growing with no end in sight.
The South Pacific, too, is in transition with growth so rapid that a
traveler often experiences the uneasy feeling of arriving into a new
and unexplored destination-even when his last visit was only a few
months back.
In what the Chinese zodiac calls the Year of the Snake, 2013 has
slithered away after a successful run-and 2014, the Year of the
Horse, looks like it will gallop in graceful strides that promise a rosy
outlook for the travel industry-as tourism, according to the United
Nations World Tourism Organization, generated $293 billion in
the Asia-Pacific region during the past year.
Some destinations received considerable play while other equally
alluring places were mere spear holders in the vast drama of world
tourism. When it comes to welcoming visitors, 2013 saw many
time-tested destinations hold their own and the uptick of travelers to
Asia and the South Pacific region indicates that tourists are venturing
beyond the usual spots. In this feature, rather than stretch myself
thin and cover various destinations, I decided to focus on some of
my favorite spots in the region.
japan
In the March 2013 issue, I wrote an onsite review on Kyushu,
Japan's southern island. I personally find this destination one of
56 december 2013
Japan's most spectacular and singular places, an opinion shared
by many.
Shuichi Kameyama, director of international tourism at the Ja-
pan Tourism Agency (jnto.go.jp/eng), was quoted in that onsite
as saying that although Americans comprised only 3 percent of
the total number of tourists in 2012, the region expects "definitely
a higher number in 2013."
The latest figures (October 2013) shows Kameyama's uncanny
foresight: the number of American visitors has risen to about
5 percent.
Hiroyosu Konishi, manager, overseas division of Kyushu's
Tourism Promotion Organization (welcomekyushu.com), was
also quoted in that onsite as saying that "anyone who wants to
see a little paradise and enjoy our onzen (traditional Japanese bath
houses) and other purely Japanese treats will delight in Kyushu."
Both were proven correct.
Myanmar's rise in tourism
has been meteoric.
insider's tip for
independent travelers
If your clients hate schlepping heavy bags in trains,
taxis or buses while in Japan, then Takkyubin
(kuronekoyamato.com.jp/en) is a must. This nationwide
delivery service company allows travelers to send
luggage ahead to their destinations.
The service is flawless and extremely reliable.
recommend.com
ABERCROMBIE & KENT
http://jnto.go.jp/eng
http://www.welcomekyushu.com
http://kuronekoyamato.com.jp/en
http://www.recommend.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2013
Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Canyon Ranch
Tour Talk: Insight Vacations
17th Annual Recommend Readers' Choice Awards Winners
Cruising 2013
Discovering North America
Caribbean Trends
Anguilla Travel Agent Specialist Program
Asia & The South Pacific in the Rearview Mirror
Mexico 2013
Latin America in 2013 and Beyond
Africa + The Middle East Continue to Make Stides
Nostalgic for Europe
Recommend December 2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/UndiscoveredFlorida2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorida2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/UndiscoveredFlorida2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorida2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/UndiscoveredFlorida2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorida2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/2016deltaeuropemiddleeastandafricatravelguide
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorida
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/deltacaribbeanguide2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/martinique2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/delateurope2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/colombia2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/martinique
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/theislandsoftahiti
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/greatbritain
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/ClubMed2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/recommend/recommend/december2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/anguilla
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/stlucia
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/guadeloupeisland
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/hamburg2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/2013DeltaTravelGuide
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/VisitFlorida2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/panama2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/india2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/visitflorida_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/asia_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/Delta_2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/aruba_dec_11
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/Thailand_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/stockholm
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/Flanders
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/mex_may_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/prevue_fl_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/caribbean_april_2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/2011guidetolatinamerica
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/RECOMMEND_JAN_2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/Asia
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/Taiwan
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/Israel
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/CA
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/RivieraNayarit
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/BRAZIL
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/MEXICO
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/SUPPLEMENTS/India
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com