APEC Welcomes 800 Million Tourists

Measures to help small businesses and workforces accommodate this surge in visitors were taken forward by officials and industry representatives on the week of August 29, 2016.
“The Asia-Pacific is currently the most significant contributor to the advancement in tourist numbers globally,” noted Papua New Guinea Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang, in opening remarks. “The region’s position is reflective of its above average market growth which registered a nine per cent rate within the first four months of 2016.”
International tourist arrivals in APEC economies have jumped 168 per cent to over 426 million during the last twenty years.
Achieving APEC’s tourist arrivals goal, aided by collaboration to improve air connectivity and entry processes, would add USD 3.8 trillion dollars in GDP, create 21.1 million jobs and lift 15.2 million people out of poverty across the region, the report adds.
APEC is working with the private sector to lift structural barriers to industry innovation, including the development of new products and niche markets. Easing bottlenecks to entrepreneurship and tourism operators owned by women, who account for 60 per cent of the industry workforce, is a parallel emphasis.
APEC economies are further boosting occupational standards and certification programs, wider access to training and career development vital to encouraging young people to pursue long-term employment in tourism.
Press-release at the official APEC web-site