An Australian sunset. Photo courtesy of Thierry Douin, Singapore.

The survey commissioned by Visa International, which asked more than 4,500 people from nine Asia Pacific countries and territories to share their top five “must-visit” travel destinations in the region, also sees Singapore, New Zealand, Japan and India making it to the list.

Most of the respondents (63 percent) said Australia was the place they most wanted to see. Singapore was next (42 percent), followed by New Zealand (41 percent), Japan (40 percent) and India (27 percent).

Australia also ranked in the top or second place for all countries and territories surveyed, underscoring widespread regional interest in travelling to Australia.

According to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), more than 2.7 million people from the nine countries and territories surveyed visited Australia in 2007. PATA forecasts that more than three million people will visit Australia from these same countries and territories in 2010, representing an average annual growth rate of 3.4 percent.

Commenting on the findings Visa International’s country manager, Singapore and Brunei, Meranda Chan (also PATA Board Director) said the survey showed that the Asia Pacific region is a popular destination for people already living in the region.

“This is particularly good news as tourism is a critical element of almost all economies in the region as tourism spend is estimated to be $427 million a day in Asia Pacific.”

Singapore was the top “must see’ destination for respondents from India (76 percent). The island- nation was also favoured by respondents from Taiwan (29 percent), Korea (29 percent), New Zealand (25 percent) and Japan (23 percent).

As the third overall “must-see” destination for Asia Pacific audiences, New Zealand was popular with Malaysians (64 percent), Japanese (45 percent) and New Zealanders (28 percent).

A majority of Australian respondents (59 percent) ranked New Zealand as their top “must-see” destination, while a similar majority of New Zealanders (60 percent) ranked Australia as their top “must-see” destination.

Japan, the fourth overall “must-see” destination across all respondents, was the top choice for Hong Kong (77 percent), Taiwan (78 percent) and Singapore (64 percent).
Sixty-two percent of those surveyed in Korea listed Japan as their second ‘must-see’ destination, after Australia.

India was the fifth overall “must-see” place for Asia Pacific audiences. Interestingly it was domestic tourism that proved the big draw with more than half of the Indian respondents expressing interest in exploring the tourist attractions of their own country.