PATA, MasterCard select Emma Wong for Young Tourism Strategist of the Year Award

The PATA/MasterCard selection committee has chosen Ms Emma Wong to receive the PATA/MasterCard Young Tourism Strategist of the Year Award. This PATA Young Tourism Professionals (YTP) initiative seeks to identify the brightest young travel and tourism student or executive in Asia Pacific through a 2,500-word essay on a travel industry topic.

Ms Wong, a doctoral student at the School of Marketing, University of New South Wales, Australia, wrote about "Perceived Challenges of Tourism in the Next Five Years". For the past two years, Ms Wong has been working on projects related to "destination competitiveness and sustainability". She believes the ultimate goal of tourism stakeholders combating challenges is to achieve a competitive yet sustainable position.

"This study can be considered an extension of my interest in destination competitiveness and sustainability," said Ms Wong. "In my essay I proposed an analytical framework and research plan for the study of challenges to Asia Pacific tourism in the next five years. The framework adopts a holistic stakeholder approach."

MasterCard Senior Vice President-Regional Business Development Mr Stuart McDonald will present Ms Wong with a winner's plaque and a US$5,000 research grant to research her chosen topic.

"MasterCard is a firm believer that in giving opportunities to the youth of today, we build the leaders of tomorrow," said Mr McDonald. "This award is the first of its kind in the tourism and hospitality industry in Asia Pacific. MasterCard is proud to work with PATA on this ground-breaking initiative."

Mr McDonald added: "Emma Wong's research project will provide some valuable insights into the challenges that the tourism industry will face in the years to come. We at MasterCard will continue to look out for Emma's work and contribution to the tourism industry."

Ms Wong will have until April 2005 to produce a first-class research paper, which she will present to delegates at the 54th PATA Annual Conference in Macau.

PATA Managing Director-Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) Mr John Koldowski has offered the SIC's services and resources to Ms Wong as she conducts her research.

Ms Wong said: "I appreciate PATA and MasterCard for their initiatives in supporting tourism research. This gives me enormous encouragement. My research plan will no longer be a proposal sitting on a bookshelf, but a plan that will be executed and will generate meaningful findings."

MasterCard will sponsor Ms Wong's air travel and accommodation to PATA Travel Mart 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand, September 22-24 to receive the plaque and cheque.