(NEWS) ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 2025-Oct-24 — /Travel PR News/ — Tourism leaders and changemakers from across Europe have joined forces to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment through the “Almaty Call to Action”, a landmark outcome of the First Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Europe, held from 22–23 October in Almaty. The… Read the full news article
(NEWS) BANGKOK, Thailand, 2025-Sep-8 — /Travel PR News/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has confirmed Chiang Rai as the host of the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2025 (PDMF 2025), which will take place from December 1–3 at the Heritage Chiang Rai Hotel & Convention. Announced during the closing of PDMF 2024, the selection… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA’s 2025 Face of the Future Award recognized Yeji Cho of the Korea Tourism Organization as Grand Winner for her leadership in accessible and cooperative tourism initiatives. Three additional honourees—Poornaka Delpachitra of Intrepid Travel (sustainability), Dr. Bella Vongvisitsin of Hong Kong Metropolitan University (strategic management) and Nikhil Jeet of DDP Group (leadership)—were celebrated… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA has launched Tourism in Focus, a monthly report series offering succinct, data-driven insights on tourism’s impact in the Asia Pacific. Guided by the tagline “Insights for a Meaningful Pacific Asia Tourism Economy” and aligned with PATA’s Strategy 2030, each issue examines segments such as cultural, experiential, health and wellness, and purpose-driven tourism…. Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA’s Mid-Year Update to its Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2025–2027 refines its March outlook, modelling three recovery scenarios for 39 destinations amid geopolitical tensions, economic volatility and community pushback against mass tourism. Key takeaways include a projected rise from 692 million to 801 million international arrivals by 2027 under the “medium” scenario; China,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA has welcomed the Aseer Region Development Authority as its latest member, strengthening ties in Saudi Arabia’s southwest. PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and ASDA CEO Eng. Hashem Al Dabbagh emphasized Aseer’s potential as a model for sustainable, community-focused tourism. The region—known for its cool mountains, rich heritage and varied landscapes—will benefit from… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) On 17 June at Centara Grand’s CRU Champagne Bar, PATA and its Thailand Chapter honoured outgoing TCEB President Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya and welcomed Siripakorn Cheawsamoot as DASTA’s new Director General. PATA Chair Peter Semone and event organiser Ben Montgomery highlighted both men’s contributions to Thailand’s tourism sector—Chiruit for boosting the country’s MICE… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA and Visa are hosting their first SME capacity-building workshop in Beijing, equipping Chinese tourism businesses with digital-marketing strategies, visitor-friendly international payment solutions, and data insights on inbound travellers. This follows similar programmes across Southeast Asia and is supported by key local and regional partners. The training addresses China’s advanced mobile-payment landscape and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA highlighted its commitment to Meaningful Tourism at the 2025 Guangzhou International Travel Fair, calling for a shift away from traditional metrics to a more balanced, values-driven approach to tourism. With a focus on community well-being, cultural preservation, and environmental responsibility, PATA and the Meaningful Tourism Centre are working together to support a… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA has announced that the PATA Annual Summit 2026 (PAS 2026) will be co-hosted by the cities of Gyeongju and Pohang in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Korea, from May 11-13, 2026. This marks the first time in PATA history that two cities will co-host the event. The Summit aims to be a platform for sustainability,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA has formalized a new partnership with the SUNx Institute through an MOU signed at the PATA Annual Summit 2025. The agreement focuses on climate resilience and sustainable development within the travel and tourism sector, with a shared emphasis on the Dodo4Kids program, which aims to teach young learners about Climate Friendly Travel…. Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA is now accepting submissions for the Face of the Future 2025 award, with a deadline of June 15, 2025. The award recognizes young professionals in the Asia Pacific region who demonstrate leadership and innovation in sustainable tourism. The winner will receive various benefits, including sponsorship to attend PATA Travel Mart 2025, a… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA and the European Travel Commission (ETC) have entered into a strategic partnership to advance sustainable tourism practices and promote greater connectivity between Asia Pacific and Europe. The collaboration, announced during the PATA Annual Summit 2025, will focus on a range of initiatives including supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), promoting balanced tourism… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has partnered with CrescentRating to launch the Halal Travel Trends 2025 report, developed in collaboration with Mastercard. The report provides crucial insights into the preferences and behaviors of Muslim travelers, helping destinations and travel businesses better cater to this growing market. The launch was celebrated at the… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA has released a major new report at PAS 2025 in İstanbul, titled The Evolving Tourism Workforce: Human Capital Development in APAC, produced in collaboration with Pear Anderson. Drawing from a year of in-depth research, the report explores the region’s pressing workforce challenges—such as talent attraction, skills gaps, and disconnects between education and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The PATA Annual Summit 2025 in İstanbul united over 260 tourism leaders from 35 destinations under the theme “Timeless Wisdom for a Sustainable Future.” The event saw the ratification of PATA’s new Vision and Mission, strategic governance updates, and the advancement of the PATA 2030 Strategy. With panels on climate change, innovation, aviation,… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) At the PATA Annual Summit 2025 in İstanbul, the Pacific Asia Travel Association unveiled a new Vision and Mission to guide its future direction. The new Vision, “A meaningful Pacific Asia tourism economy,” reflects a deeper commitment to long-term, inclusive outcomes that benefit communities, cultures, economies, and the environment. The new Mission highlights… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) During the PATA Annual Summit 2025 in İstanbul, the Pacific Asia Travel Association honoured two key leaders for their exceptional contributions to the tourism industry. Dr Chris Bottrill, Associate Vice President at Capilano University, received the PATA Life Membership Award for his leadership in sustainability, youth engagement, and Indigenous tourism. SanJeet, Director of… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has elected three new Executive Board members during its 74th Annual General Meeting in Istanbul: Dr. Chuwit Mitrchob of Thailand’s DASTA, Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor of Malaysia’s Sarawak Tourism Board, and Raki Phillips of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority in the UAE. Each brings… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA, in collaboration with the Sarawak Tourism Board, is launching three new training programmes in Sarawak, Malaysia to advance digital skills and AI literacy among tourism SMEs and destination management staff. Building on a successful AI training initiative from 2024, the sessions will take place in Miri and Kuching. They include an AI… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) At the Nepal-India-China Expo 2025 held in Pokhara, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) reinforced its commitment to fostering regional tourism collaboration. PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid met with key tourism leaders from Nepal and the surrounding region, including ministers and senior officials, to discuss the significant opportunities presented by Nepal’s location between… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), working with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre, has released the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2025-2027, analyzing tourism recovery for 39 regional destinations. The medium scenario projects international visitor arrivals (IVAs) rising to 813.7 million by 2027 from 648.1 million in 2024, driven… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA and Travel Unity have entered into a formal two-year partnership, as outlined in an MOU finalized in January 2025. This collaboration aims to foster a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region. The partnership will facilitate joint initiatives such as cross-promotion of events, reciprocal speaking engagements, and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA has renewed its partnership with PolyU for another three years, continuing the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts reports. This collaboration, set to run from 2024 to 2027, will provide essential insights to the tourism industry amidst economic and geopolitical uncertainties. The partnership involves using advanced forecasting techniques and AI algorithms to analyze key… Read the full news article
Phetchaburi Province, TCEB, DASTA, TAT, Dusit Thani Hua Hin and PATA held a press conference on the preparation of the forum. (IN SHORT) Phetchaburi Province is set to host the PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2024 (PDMF 2024) from November 12 to 14, 2024. A press conference on October 30 highlighted the partnership between the Pacific… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has renewed its partnership with OAG, designating the company as its Preferred Partner and exclusive aviation data provider for the next three years. PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid emphasized the importance of this collaboration, which will provide members with vital aviation data to monitor flight capacity and… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) released its Annual Tourism Report for 2024, highlighting a significant rebound in international visitor arrivals (IVAs) across the Asia Pacific region, which nearly doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year. The report reveals that 522 million visitors arrived in 47 destinations, marking a 94.3% increase. Key… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) The PATA Youth Symposium and Career Fair 2024, hosted by Dusit Thani College, welcomed over 200 students and industry delegates from 12 destinations. Organized by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the event featured presentations on the future of tourism, the role of AI, and the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)… Read the full news article
(IN SHORT) PATA and MGM are launching a capacity-building programme in Macao from September 24-26, 2024, aimed at enhancing the skills of local MICE professionals. The programme, “Macao MICE Forward: Innovate, Sustain, Excel,” focuses on sustainable practices, digital marketing, and the integration of AI in event management. With expert-led sessions and workshops, the initiative aims… Read the full news article
PATA Face of the Future 2024 Honoured for Outstanding Achievements (IN SHORT) PATA recognized the achievements of its Chapters and Student Chapters during the PATA Power of Networking session in Bangkok. Awards were given to various chapters for their leadership, engagement with young tourism professionals, and sustainability initiatives. The PATA India Chapter received the Spirit… Read the full news article