Notes & Definitions

Data Sources

National Tourist Offices (NTOs), National Statistics Agencies (NSAs) and other published sources.

The primary source for the visitor arrival data is the embarkation/debarkation card.  

Arrival statistics are reported to PATA either by country of residence or nationality of visitors and the current position is as follows:

Residence:

Australia; Cambodia; Canada; Chinese Taipei; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; Guam; Hawaii; Hong Kong SAR; Indonesia; Macau SAR; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Niue; Northern Marianas; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Samoa; Singapore; Sri Lanka; French Polynesia (Tahiti); Tonga; USA; and Vanuatu.

Nationality:

Bangladesh; Bhutan; Chile; China; India; Japan; Kiribati; Korea (ROK); Lao PDR; Maldives; Mexico; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Solomon Islands; Thailand; Tuvalu; and Vietnam.

Definitions used by PATA:

IVA: International Visitor Arrivals

Visitor: Any person visiting a country other than that in which he/she has his/her usual place of residence for any reason other than following an occupation remunerated from within the country visited and remaining at least 24 hours. (This definition is that of a “tourist” according to UNWTO usage.) The terms ‘Visitor’ and ‘Arrivals’, as they are used throughout this report refer to International Visitor Arrivals

Excursionist: Any person visiting a country other than that in which he/she has his/her usual place of residence and remaining less than 24 hours.

Cruise Passenger: Any person visiting a country who arrives and departs on the same ship and uses that ship’s accommodations for the duration of the stay. (Cruise passenger statistics are presented separately from the regular visitor arrival statistics and are not included in visitor arrival totals in most cases.)

Asia Pacific Regions: PATA has grouped the destination members of the Association (and some non-members) into five sub-regions. The term “Asia Pacific” as used throughout this report consists of the total area embraced by these sub-regions, which is as follows:

North America: Canada; Mexico; and the USA.

Northeast Asia: China (PRC); Chinese Taipei; DPR Korea; Hong Kong SAR; Japan; Korea (ROK); Macau SAR; and Mongolia.

South Asia: Bangladesh; Bhutan; India; Maldives; Nepal; Pakistan; and Sri Lanka.

Southeast Asia: Brunei; Cambodia; Indonesia; Lao PDR; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Timor-Leste; and Vietnam.

The Pacific: American Samoa; Australia; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; French Polynesia (Tahiti); Fiji; Guam; Hawaii; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Niue; Northern Marianas; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tonga; Tuvalu; and Vanuatu.

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