These conditions are generating large increases in air travel and cargo shipments which in turn require massive amounts of resources for all elements of the civil aviation system, including highly skilled specialists and acquisition of modern aircraft, navigation systems and associated infrastructure. A GDP growth of 3.1 per cent in 1995 for the world rose to 3.8 per cent in 1996, see Chart 1 for trend 1987-1996. The GDP increase in 1996 over 1995 for Asia at about 8 per cent was more than three times that for industrialized States which was 2.3 per cent. International tourism receipts which were buoyant at 8 per cent in 1996 over 1995 was consistent with general economic growth. See Chart 2 for trend 1987-1996.
Air transportation is a significant contributor to tourist receipts.
Measured in passenger kilometres, Asia Pacific world market share rose from 16.3 per cent in 1985 to 24.7 per cent 10 years later and is forecast to grow to 33.1 per cent in year 2005. In contrast, Europe's world market share dropped from 31.3 per cent in 1985 to 24.7 per cent in 1995 and is forecast to reduce further to 22.9 per cent in year 2005. Another index of importance was the huge increase in the number of passengers on transpacific scheduled services from 6.4 million in 1980 to almost 22 million in 1995 for an annual average growth rate of 8.6 per cent which was more than double that for the world at 3.7 per cent. The unprecedented prosperity, in a number of APEC member economies, offers opportunity for the re-allocation of resources to provide for improvements urgently necessary to correct safety deficiencies identified by ICAO and a number of States and also to improve civil aviation safety that higher living standards in the economies demand. Governments in a number of APEC member economies have announced a high priority for safety in their public policy statements.