Photo (L/R): Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA; Dr. Erwin Balane, Tourism Attaché, Philippines Department of Tourism – Korea Office; Hiroshi Tanimura, Executive Director of International Affairs Department at JATA, Secretary General of PATA Japan Chapter, representing Katsuo Aso, Senior Manager – Global Business Department, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd.; Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research, Hawaii Tourism Authority; Jadie Goo, Acting Chief Brand Officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority; Régine Lee, President & CEO, Guam Visitors Bureau; and Peter Semone, former Chair, PATA.
(IN SHORT) The Pacific Asia Travel Association honoured long-standing member organisations during the PATA Executive Board & Board Member and PATA Awards Presentation Dinner on May 11, held as part of the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Pohang, Korea. The recognition formed part of PATA’s 75th anniversary commemorations and celebrated organisations with more than 50, 60 and 70 years of membership. Members recognised for over 70 years included Guam Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd. and the Philippine Department of Tourism, while the 60-year group included tourism boards, travel organisations and airlines such as Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Macao Government Tourism Office, Thai Airways International, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Tourism Malaysia. Organisations recognised for more than 50 years included All Nippon Airways, Dusit Thani, PACTO DMC INDONESIA, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority and Tourism Solomons. PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said the long-standing members have contributed to the Association’s strength, relevance and collective role in shaping a more responsible and sustainable tourism future across the Asia Pacific region.
(PRESS RELEASE) BANGKOK, Thailand, 2026-May-26 — /Travel PR News/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association honoured a group of long-standing member organisations during the PATA Executive Board & Board Member and PATA Awards Presentation Dinner held on May 11 as part of the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Pohang, Korea. The recognition highlighted organisations that have supported PATA for more than 50, 60 and 70 years, reflecting decades of collaboration across the Asia Pacific tourism sector.
The ceremony formed part of PATA’s 75th anniversary commemorations and placed a spotlight on the organisations that have contributed to the Association’s growth, regional influence and long-term relevance. PATA said the honoured members have played an important role in strengthening cooperation across destinations, tourism boards, airlines, travel companies and hospitality organisations throughout the Asia Pacific region.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said the anniversary provided an important opportunity to recognise the Association’s longest-serving members. “As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Pacific Asia Travel Association, we are honoured to recognise our long-standing members whose continued support, trust, and collective voice have been instrumental in the growth, strength, and relevance of the Association. Their commitment continues to shape a more responsible and sustainable future for tourism across the Asia Pacific region,” he said.
Among the organisations recognised for more than 70 years of membership were Guam Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd., and the Philippine Department of Tourism. Representatives attending the recognition included Régine Lee, President and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau; Jadie Goo, Acting Chief Brand Officer of Hawaii Tourism Authority; Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research at Hawaii Tourism Authority; Hiroshi Tanimura, Executive Director of the International Affairs Department at JATA and Secretary General of the PATA Japan Chapter; and Dr. Erwin Balane, Tourism Attaché for the Philippine Department of Tourism.
Other organisations recognised for more than 70 years of membership but unable to attend included Destination NSW, Marianas Visitors Authority, Tahiti Tourisme and Tourism Fiji.
PATA also honoured organisations with more than 60 years of membership, including Global Tour, Ltd., Hong Kong Tourism Board, Japan Association of Travel Agents, Korea Tourism Organization, Macao Government Tourism Office, Nepal Tourism Board, Smith’s Motor Boat Service, Inc., Taiwan Tourism Administration, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Malaysia, World Express Group and Yeti Travels Pvt. Ltd.
Photo: Front row (L/R): Kamilia Hani Abdul Halim, Director, Tourism Malaysia Seoul; Suja Shakya, Senior Manager – Sales & Marketing, Yeti Travels Pvt. Ltd.; Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research, Hawaii Tourism Authority, representing Kamika Smith, General Manager, Smith’s Motor Boat Service, Inc.; and Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macao Government Tourism Office.
Back row (L/R): Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA; Hiroshi Tanimura, Executive Director of International Affairs Department, JATA, and Secretary General, PATA Japan Chapter; Tunku Iskandar, Partner, World Express Group, representing Tan Chee Chye, Chairman, World Express Group; Watcharaphan Bunnag, Chief of International Relations, Tourism Authority of Thailand; Yi-Chen Huang, Chief Secretary, Taiwan Tourism Administration; Natapol Vanichkul, Head of Sales, Northern, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited; Rohini Prasad Khanal, Officiating Director, Nepal Tourism Board; Yoon-Ho Kim, Director – Korea, Hong Kong Tourism Board; Kyungsoo Yang, Executive Vice President, Korea Tourism Organization; Henry Oh, Chairman, Global Tour, Ltd.; and Peter Semone, former Chair, PATA.
Representatives attending from this group included Henry Oh, Chairman of Global Tour, Ltd.; Yoon-Ho Kim, Director Korea at Hong Kong Tourism Board; Hiroshi Tanimura of JATA and the PATA Japan Chapter; Kyungsoo Yang, Executive Vice President of Korea Tourism Organization; Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of Macao Government Tourism Office; Rohini Prasad Khanal, Officiating Director of Nepal Tourism Board; Yi-Chen Huang, Chief Secretary of Taiwan Tourism Administration; Natapol Vanichkul, Head of Sales Northern at Thai Airways International Public Company Limited; Watcharaphan Bunnag, Chief of International Relations at Tourism Authority of Thailand; Kamilia Hani Abdul Halim, Director of Tourism Malaysia Seoul; Tunku Iskandar, Partner at World Express Group; and Suja Shakya, Senior Manager Sales and Marketing at Yeti Travels Pvt. Ltd.
Additional organisations with more than 60 years of membership that were unable to attend included DTH Destination Thailand Limited, Hecny Transportation Ltd., Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Okinawa Tourist Service, Inc., Orient Express Private Ltd., Soaltee Hotel Limited and Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd.
The Association also recognised organisations with more than 50 years of membership. These included All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Dusit Thani Public Company Limited, PACTO DMC INDONESIA, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority and Tourism Solomons.
Photo (L/R): Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA; Dagnal Dereveke, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Solomons; Raty Ning, President Director, PACTO DMC INDONESIA; Lesley Timothy, Executive Officer, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority; Simon Lloyd, Dean, Hospitality Management and Business Administration, Dusit Thani College; Yeonhee Cho, Director of Sales – GSO Korea, Dusit Thani Public Company Limited; Yasuyuki Suzuki, Senior Director, Tourism and Regional Revitalization, All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.; and Peter Semone, former Chair, PATA.
Representatives attending from the 50-year membership group included Yasuyuki Suzuki, Senior Director Tourism and Regional Revitalization at All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.; Yeonhee Cho, Director of Sales GSO Korea at Dusit Thani Public Company Limited; Simon Lloyd, Dean of Hospitality Management and Business Administration at Dusit Thani College; Raty Ning, President Director of PACTO DMC INDONESIA; Lesley Timothy, Executive Officer of Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority; and Dagnal Dereveke, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Solomons.
Other organisations with more than 50 years of membership that were unable to attend included India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Messe Berlin / ITB Berlin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Pakistan and PanTravel.
The recognitions at PATA Annual Summit 2026 underscored the Association’s long-standing role as a platform for tourism cooperation across the Asia Pacific. By honouring members with decades of continued participation, PATA highlighted the importance of institutional continuity, regional collaboration and shared commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism development.
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E-mail: communications@PATA.org
SOURCE: Pacific Asia Travel Association
