The changing lifestyles of people in the Asia-Pacific has created an increased demand for international travel, with clients now looking for ultimate destinations and stellar service. 

In the latest study by tourism technology provider Amadeus and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, titled "Shaping the Future of Travel in Asia-Pacific: The Big FOUR Travel Effects," arrivals to Asia-Pacific destinations are expected to rise from 4.5 million in 2011 to almost 70 million by 2030. 

The findings cite geopolitical, social, economic and technological trends as the key drivers of the direction to which the Asia-Pacific travel industry will go in the next 20 years. Trends such as the greater empowerment of women, the ageing of populations, the drift toward individualism will have a huge impact on attitudes, so with the narrowing wealth gap between emerging and developed economies.

The "Me Effect," for instance, or individuals going for self-managed travel, will be particularly strong in China, Korea and Japan. There will also be a 400 per cent increase in international business trips by women from Asia-Pacific countries by 2030, from around 4.5 million in 2011. India shall remain the largest source of permanent migrants to Australia, the study said. 

The other three "effects" include "The Leapfrog Effect," referring to the region's technology and infrastructure activities leapfrogging current leaders, "The Red Tape Effect," referring to the breakdown of barriers to travel, and "The Barbell Effect," referring to growth at the upper and lower ends of the travel market.

"We live in what experts call the 'Asian Century.' If the current growth track continues, by 2050, Asia's per capita income could rise 600 per cent in purchasing power parity, matching Europe and other Western markets," said David Brett, president of Amadeus Asia-Pacific. 

"Over the next two decades, some three billion Asians will enter the ranks of the global middle-class joining what we term the 'consuming class' with enormous implications for the global economy," he added.

The report covers Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Singapore.