KUALA LUMPUR (May 9): Chinese tourists constituted the fastest-growing tourist group at more than 30% across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region last year, according to Standard Chartered.

Standard Chartered Asean economic research head Edward Lee said the 30% growth rate excluded Thailand. Lee said Chinese tourists made up the third-largest tourist group in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In Singapore, Chinese tourists made up the second largest group.

"Chinese tourist arrivals have accounted for some of the largest increases in tourist arrivals in Asean in recent years. Interestingly, the Chinese make up the largest group of tourists only for Thailand.

"Interestingly, Singapore's and Malaysia's Chinese tourism receipts contracted in 2014-15. This is in contrast to Thailand, where they continue to increase at a fast pace (+15% in 2016, after averaging 62% per year from 2010-15)," Lee wrote in a note.