PATA and The Code to work together to raise awareness of the crime of child sex tourism

BANGKOK, 2014-6-12 — /Travel PR News/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism (The Code) have agreed to cooperate in the promotion of child protection practices among tourism companies in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May 2014, outlines plans for PATA and The Code to work together to raise awareness of the crime of child sex tourism and further promote The Code. The MoU also offers PATA members the opportunity to join The Code and take advantage of a discount on its annual membership fee.

The Code provides tools to tourism companies to implement concrete measures to promote child protection practices and responsible tourism. Companies that join The Code agree to take six steps that turn child protection principles into concrete actions that can help keep children safe.

Andreas Astrup, General Manager of The Code, said: “Regional travel associations such as PATA have a long reach. We are thrilled that PATA will use its voice and influence to promote the essential work of The Code and help protect children in tourism.”

As the first regional tourism association to partner with The Code, PATA is leading the way to a more responsible tourism industry worldwide. Mario Hardy, PATA’s Chief Operations Officer, hopes that many PATA members will join The Code.

“As taboo as it may be to talk about, the sexual exploitation of children is a problem in some of the regions we operate in. When our members join The Code they will be supported to take concrete actions to protect children while also reassuring their customers that they are socially responsible,” said Mr Hardy.

-ENDS-

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 90 government, state and city tourism bodies, nearly 30 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 57 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 41 local PATA chapters worldwide. The chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership of the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC), which includes ACICLIAIATAICAOWEFUNWTO and the WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney, Dubai, London and New York. Visit www.PATA.org

About The Code
The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism (The Code) is an industry-driven corporate responsible tourism initiative that provides awareness, tools and support to tourism companies in order to prevent the sexual exploitation of children. Tourism companies that join The Code agree to take six steps that turn child protection principles into concrete actions that can help keep children safe. Visit www.TheCode.org

 

Media Contact:

PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Manager – Communications
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 658 2000
Email: communications@pata.org

 

The Code
Cassandra Chapman
Fundraising & Communications Manager
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 637 9939
Email: cassandra@thecode.org

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Picture: Mario Hardy, Chief Operations Officer, PATA; and Andreas Astrup, General Manager, The Code

Picture: Mario Hardy, Chief Operations Officer, PATA; and Andreas Astrup, General Manager, The Code