Leisure travel on the rise

Tourism in the Asia Pacific regions is expected to continue to grow in 2013, according to a new study which found leisure holidays remain strong among the region's travellers.
Travelzoo Asia Pacific's latest trends reports found that regardless of economic uncertainty, travel frequency in the region is expected to increase to 4.5% from 3.6% last year, while region spending will escalate 23% over that of 2012.
Australian travellers will be the biggest spenders this year, spending an average US$8,864 (up from US$6,877 in 2012). They will also travel 3.8 times in 2013, compared to only 2.8 times last year.
Meanwhile, Mainland China travellers are expected to take on average 6.9 leisure trips this year, including getaways and long-haul holidays, an increase from last year's 4.2.
Coming back in full-force after last year's quake, Japanese travellers are expected to take an average of 4.7 trips this year compared to 3.4 last year.
As a whole, Asia Pacific travellers will increase their mobile phone usage while on holidays this year, with over 60% of Travelzoo Asia Pacific subscribers using mobile internet while travelling in 2012.