BANGKOK, 2014-7-16 — /Travel PR News/ — On June 28, 2014, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) China Panel of Experts (PCPE) held its inauguration conference in the coastal city of Yantai, China. PATA Regional Director – Greater China, Mr. Bo Wu, hosted the conference, while PATA Chief Operations Officer, Mr Mario Hardy, delivered the keynote address.
The PCPE aims to promote the sustainable development of tourism in China and to provide a platform for communication and guidance from experienced tourism stakeholders. Through the “10+1 Expert Consultancy” model, the PCPE will conduct regular meetings to provide authoritative guidance to a specific tourism destination based on theory, experience, and the resources and capabilities of PATA.
The panel consists of 10 leading tourism experts, including Mr Shanzhong Zhu, Executive Director, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); Mr Mr Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, PATA Immediate Past Chairman and Former Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO); Mr John Koldowski, Special Advisor, PATA; Mr George Berean, Senior Advisor, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG); Mr. Chong Yu, Director General, Shangdong Provincial Tourism Administration; Mr Kangli Hao, Director General, Sichuan Provincial Tourism Administration; Mr Zhongwu Yang, Director General, Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Administration; Mr Hua Zhu, Director General, Fujian Provincial Tourism Administration; Ms Lin He, Deputy Director, Henan Provincial Tourism Administration; and Mr. Yunfeng Jia, Member of UNWTO Panel of Tourism Experts.
Mr Hardy said, “The PCPE is an initiative that represents the essence of what PATA is all about; bringing the Public and Private sector together at the same table to discuss issues; challenges and opportunities to improve and grow tourism in a sustainable manner. We are delighted to see that regional heads of several provinces and cities of China are willing to collaborate and share best practices for the benefits of China’s tourism growth.”
At the conference, Mr Antunes was appointed Honorary Chairman of the PCPE, while Mr. Wu was appointed Honorary Secretary. In addition, Mr. Chong Yu and Mr. Yunfeng Jia, were appointed Chairman on Duty and Secretary, respectively.
During the event, Mr Hardy conferred the PCPE certificate to the ten experts and the PCPE bylaws were deliberated and passed. The members of the panel also discussed how to enhance and promote the coastal city of Yantai as a world-class tourism destination.
As an international, experience-based, and project-oriented panel, the “10+1 Expert Consultancy” model will not only provide guidance and consultancy for the transformation of developing tourism and tourism services of China, it will also provide unique and innovative solutions for the development of the entire Asia-Pacific tourism industry.
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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 ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. ThePATAmPOWER 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
Media Contact:
PATA
Paul Pruangkarn
Manager – Communications
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 658 2000
Email: communications@PATA.org
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Picture L/R: Ms Hua Zhu, Director General, Fujian Provincial Tourism Administration; Mr Zhongwu Yang, Director General, Shaanxi Provincial Tourism Administration; Mr Kangli Hao, Director General, Sichuan Provincial Tourism Administration; Mr John Koldowski, Special Advisor, PATA; Mr Chong Yu, Director General, Shandong Provincial Tourism Administration; Mr Mario Hardy, Chief Operation Officer, PATA; Mr George Berean, Senior Advisor, WATG; Mr Yunfeng Jia, Expert of UNWTO; and Mr Bo Wu, Regional Director – Greater China, PATA