PATA Board Meet opens on Heels of Strong Mart

Board members of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) start two-and-a-half days of meetings today to plot the direction of an association increasingly focused on advocacy and intelligence on behalf of its members.

The meeting follows three days of travel buyer-seller networking at the PATA Travel Mart.

Tomorrow, 140 PATA Board, proxies and specialist committee members will hear the results of the PATA Total Tourism Survey. The survey received candid feedback from 264 travel industry respondents between February and June this year. They gave their opinions on issues affecting the future of travel such as terrorism, bird flu, global warming, ageing populations, the mass media’s coverage of crises, and the impact of travel advisories, to name just a few.

Until Sunday, the Board and its specialist committees will discuss travel issues such as preparations for the 1st anniversary of the Tsunami, the impact of America’s new passport regulations on US travel plans, the emergence of Russia and China as powerful markets, and changing air travel capacity in Asia Pacific.

PATA Premier Partner Visa, will also update the marketing committee on tourist expenditure patterns in countries affected by the December 26, 2004 earthquake and Tsunami. The PATA Foundation Chairman will tell Board members how the Foundation has spent money on tourism related relief efforts in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The PATA President and CEO, Mr Peter de Jong, will also tell the Board members in an address entitled, “The Future of Tourism in an Insecure, Unstable World” that PATA and the travel industry in Asia Pacific needs to engage more with the political, social and cultural issues that impact travel.

Mr de Jong will tell Board members, “Like it or not, our industry plays a leading role in the geo-political arena. It is a role we haven’t sought. It is a role we have inherited. Now that we’ve got the role, it is time we begin to play it.”

Mr de Jong said the travel sector must not underestimate its influence in this new arena and that PATA would address the key issues in its proposed Strategic Plan 2006-2007, which the Board will also debate.

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