Tourism in East Asia

TDM 458

Ara Pachmayer

Major Geographic Qualities of East Asia

World’s most populous region One of the world’s culture hearths Political and economic forces continue to

transform traditional cultural landscapes Intensifying regional disparities

Tourism Statistics and Trends

2011 - International arrivals down Aftermath of Japan Earthquake, Tsunami

• Fewer international arrivals• Japanese not traveling (impacts region)

South Korea - 11% up Hong Kong - 11% up Macau - 8% up

Statistics

Country Arrivals (Millions) Receipts (Billions of $)

China 57.6 48.5Hong Kong 22.3 27.7South Korea 9.8 12.3Japan (-27.8%) 6.2 11Taiwan 6.0 11.0

Asia’s Established Destinations

Hong Kong Economic (trade, business) hub, slowly

recovering from British transfer to China Japan

Religious heritage, natural landscapes, decline in tourism after Earthquake and Tsunami

Eye on China

Has the most potential in Asia; mystic and fascination by westerners; Political and economic liberalization 3rd most visited country in the world! 10% growth in tourism arrivals in 2008, a result of

Olympics Macau - China’s territory

Concentrates on casinos that contribute 50% of its revenue, largest gambling industry in world in terms of profits

Venetian, Wynn, Sands Resorts China as a source market

People’s Republic of China Largest population in the world with 1.3 B

1/5 of all mankind are Chinese! Land area of China slightly larger than the US Major player in world politics, permanent

member of the UN Security Council Dominant culture in East Asia, influencing

religion, art, philosophy and culture One of the world’s oldest continuous

civilizations Communist government

Strict political control, free market areas

Deng Xiaoping Era

Took power in 1979 Attempted to wed communist political rule with capitalist

economic practice Socialist market economy

Introduced economic liberalization measures Opened China to foreign science and technology Permitted students to study abroad Allowed for the tourism economy Decentralized decision making (economics) Created SEZs, open cities, open coastal areas

Special Economic Zones

Investor incentives Easing of import and export regulations Simplified land leases Hiring of contract labor permitted Products may be sold in foreign markets and in

China (under certain restrictions) Location was prime consideration

China’s Economic Zones

Tourism in China Inbound tourism…rapid growth (though slower than 2010) Outbound tourism…

Rapidly growing # of Chinese tourists Some of the biggest spenders (3rd overall in 2011 +32%)

increase in tourism expenditures Countries should prepare for Chinese tourists Australia - Chinese visitors increase by 17%

Approved Destination Status Culture, heritage, nature Hong Kong and Macau

Some of the Main Tourist Attractions

Beijing - Reflective of Old China Tianamen Square, Great Wall, Forbidden City Beijing Olympic sites

Shanghai City of Future High Tech, Highly Developed, High Industry Special Economic Zone, (capitalism bubble within

Communist state) Hong Kong and Macau Tibet

Infrastructure

International Airports Domestic Airlines network Freeway system Increasing accommodation styles and

pricing Increased number of trained hospitality

workers Tibet pressurized Railway

Hong Kong

Excellent deep water port 7 million people in 400 square miles Economy is larger than half of the world's countries July 1, 1999 British transferred control to China Acquired a new status as China’s only Special

Administrative Region (SAR)

Hong Kong Tourism

Shopping Culture Business and Conferences Heritage

Tibet

A harsh physical environment Sparsely populated Came under Chinese control in 1720 Gained separate status in the late 19th century China’s communist regime took control in the

1950’s Buddhism, the Dalai Lama and monasteries Formally annexed in 1965 and administered as an

autonomous region

Tibet tourism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_W-Hwp1-wc&feature=channel_page

Taiwan

Taiwan

Historical background: A Chinese province for centuries Colonized by Japan in 1895 Returned to China > WWII 1949 – Chinese Nationalists (supported by the US)

fled from the mainland and established the Republic of China (ROC)

Territory - approximately 14,000 Square miles Population – 22.8 million 78% urbanized

Tourism in Taiwan Largest number of visitors from Mainland

China Tourism is characterized by

Parks Trails Culture Gambling

• Limited to outer islands• controversial

Japan

Japan

Historical Background Japan is the richest country in East Asia Isolated from rest of the world until arrival of

Commodore Perry in 1850’s After initially opposing modernization and

development, Japan under Meiji emperor promoting economic growth and development

Rapid economic growth in 19th and 20th C Democratic development of Japan into 1920’s then

rise of militarism that led to WW II Dramatic post-war economic growth in Asia

Position of Japan

Japan stands above the rest of Asia in the area of tourism expenditure

Japanese as source market - Huge! The Japanese spent about $27 billion (2011)

(but still behind China) Decrease from 2010 due to Earthquake and

Tsunami Reduced number of outbound tourists

Tourism in Japan

Vibrant, Technologically advanced cities Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka

Value on Tradition, Culture, old-ways Can be seen in social interactions, architecture,

restaurants, traditional tea houses, food, geisha’s, etc Heritage Sites,Temples

Natural Landscapes Population concentrated in urban areas leaving space Mt. Fuji, Skiing, Country side, Beaches in South

WWII Other Factors

Cost Transportation model

Japan’s Aging Population and Impact on Economy and Tourism

The Koreas

The size of Idaho but with a population of 73 million

Turbulent political history A dependency of China A colony of Japan Divided along the 38th parallel by Allied

Powers > WW II (1945) Cease-fire line established in 1953

The Koreas

North-South Contrasts

North Korea 55% of the land, 1/3 of the population, extremely rural Antiquated state enterprises Inefficient, non-productive agriculture Limited trade – former Soviet Union and China

South Korea 45% of the land, 2/3s of the population, highly urbanized Modern factories Intensive, increasingly mechanized agriculture Extensive trade – US, Japan, and Western Europe

The Koreas

Population 24.5 million 48 million

GNP (billions) $28 $1014

GNI/capita $1,800 $20,800

Tourism in North Korea

Strict communist state No FIT Designated areas only Only recently for South Koreans and

Americans DMZ

Tourism in South Korea

Shopping VFR Rural areas Temples, heritage sites DMZ

Visitors by country of Origin (2010)

Mongolia

Steppe and desert physical environment Sparsely populated with about 2.6 million

inhabitants Part of the Chinese empire from late 1600’s

until 1911 Functions as a buffer state Economy is focused on herding and animal

products

Mongolia Tourism

Yurts Nomadic lifestyles National parks Deserts Paleontology Communist legacy, heritage