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The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Asia Pacific office of the
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) have formed a new
marketing alliance. The partnership is expected to help boost dive tourism to the Pacific
Asia region and increase the profile of the dive travel niche at PATA Travel
Mart, October 1 - 3, 2003 in Singapore.
While most PATA-member travel agents sell packages within the region,
many may be unaware of the profit potential of niche travel markets. The
upcoming 26th PATA Travel Mart will focus on some of those markets. PADI
will coordinate the diving pavilion.
PADI’s participation at PATA Travel Mart will include exhibits from dive
operators in the region, attendance by sellers of dive travel from outside the
region, and presentations on selling dive travel by PADI Travel Network, a
leading dive travel wholesaler.
"We're excited about this relationship. It introduces diving as a viable
tourism product in our region -- from the Maldives to the South Pacific --
offering unsurpassed opportunities for dive enthusiasts and the leisure
traveller," said PATA Managing Director-Events, Ms. Sheila Leong.
PADI Asia Pacific Marketing Manager, Mr. Shahram Saber, added: "This new
partnership is designed to enhance the growth, value and quality of the
Pacific Asia dive travel experience for the benefit of both PADI and PATA
members. It is a mutually beneficial relationship in every sense, for the
immediate future as well as for the long-term strength of both
organisations' members.”
PADI members will participate as both buyers and sellers of travel
products “The programme is designed to help create new markets and promote dive
travel within emerging Asia Pacific destinations,” said PADI Travel Network
President, Ms. Christine Grange.
“We’re looking forward to introducing dive travel to PATA members who
might be unfamiliar with this growing specialty niche,” Mr. Saber said. “We
aim to emphasise the value of dive travel to Asia Pacific tourism as a whole." |
