ABSTRACT
Tourism is one of the most rapidly growing economic sectors in the world. It is more so for the East Asia-Pacific region, which is the focus of the worldwide tourism industry in the new millennium. Between 1989 and 1998, tourist arrivals and receipts in the East Asia Pacific region rose at an average annual rate of 6.9 per cent and 8.9 per cent respectively, against the world average of 4.3 per cent and 8.1 per cent respectively (WTO, 1999). The region is making a steady headway into the tourism world. In 1970, this region accounted for only 3.2 per cent of world tourist arrivals and 6.1 per cent of tourism receipts. In 1998, the proportions had risen to 13.9 per cent and 16.6 per cent respectively. In the new millennium, the growth of this region is expected to be spectacular. As per the projections made by the WTO, during the next decade (2001 to 2010), tourist arrivals in the East Asia-Pacific region is likely to grow at an annual rate of 5 per cent. During the same period, world tourist arrivals is projected to grow by 3.6 per cent only; for Europe and Americas, the projected growth rates are 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively (WTO, 1995).
