LONDON – The Pacific Asia region is the new engine for growth. This is the message the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) president and CEO, Peter de Jong, had for the leaders of the global tourism industry at the IPK International seminar, “The Latest Global Travel Trends 2002-2003," held at the recently-concluded World Travel Market in London. "Pacific Asia is the world’s fast-growing region, demographically and economically. The region stimulates 60 percent of global tourism demand. Travellers to the region spend over US$170 billion annually or 40 percent of global tourism receipts.” De Jong said that despite 2001 and 2002 being trying times for tourism, most of the Pacific Asia region was doing well. Northeast and Southeast Asia were still driving the region’s growth - both as destinations and markets. In 2001, international visitor arrivals to Northeast Asia increased three percent and Southeast Asia 5.2 per cent. Almost 65 percent of international visitor arrivals to Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia came from within these two regions. In the first eight months of this year, foreign arrivals to China (PRC) increased by more than 16 percent. Similar double-digit growth rates were also recorded for Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, he said. In a reference to security and travel advisory issues de Jong said, “The events in Bali and elsewhere in the world have helped to clarify PATA’s focus as an association working on behalf of its members. Advocacy involving both the public and private sectors is an essential element of our new focus.”