7/20 Top-Ranked Countries in Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2019 Are APAC Countires

This year, the report covered 140 countries worldwide to measure the set of factors andpolicies that enable the sustainable development of the travel and tourism sector, which contributes tothe development and competitiveness of a country.

Out of 20 countries in the top of travel competitiveness index, 10 come from Europe, 7 – from Aisa-Pacific and 3 – from Americas. While the majority of the Middle Eastern/North African countries occupy the middle part of the rating with the only exception of the United Arab Emirates that sit on the 33th line, between Brazil (32) and India (34), almost all countries from Sub-Saharian Africa are among the poorest performers.

Japan is ranked best among all other APAC countries – it comes 4th as in the rpevious year and so does Australia (7). China is two lines up from 15 to 13; South Korea also moved up from 19 to 16; while Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand lost 3, 4 and 2 points respectively (14th, 17th and 18th place).

Malaysia (29), Thailand (31), India (34), Taiwan (37) and Indonesia (40) are all ranked very close to each other while Vietnam occupies a much lower position (63).

Even the efforts undertaken to rehabilitate Boracay last year did not significatnly improve the Philippines' ranking – the country is on the 75th line this time vs 79th last year – slightly behind Brunei (72) but ahead of Sri Lanka (77) that lost in its ranking 13 points since last year – more than any other country in the world.

Out of the remaining APAC countries Mongolia is 90th, Laos – 97th and Cambodia – 98th. Nepal comes 102nd, Bangladesh – 120th, Pakistan – 121st. Myanmar was not covered by the index.

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