1,200 delegates attend PTM

PATA Travel Mart 2019 (PTM 2019) welcomed 1,200 delegates from 63 global destinations, in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, where PATA also announced its 2020 theme and took initiatives to propagate sustainable tourism.

TT Bureau

PATA Travel Mart saw a total of 347 sellers from 180 organisations and 34 destinations, along with 252 buyers from 244 organisations and 48 source markets with first-time buyers comprising 44 per cent of the total. In addition, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) also welcomed 190 local and international students as well as young tourism professionals. The students from eight local universities in Almaty and Nur-Sultan, as well as students from Malaysia, India and Canada, were part of the PATA Youth Symposium.

This marks the first time that PATA is organising an event in Central Asia, and our aim is to highlight its unexplored regions, particularly Kazakhstan

The welcome reception of PTM 2019 was presided over by Aktoty Raimkulova, Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Radisson Hotel, Astana. On the occasion, Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, said, “This marks the first time that PATA is organising an event in Central Asia, and our aim is to highlight the unexplored region, particularly Kazakhstan. PTM provides the perfect opportunity to showcase this unique destination’s vast landscapes and beautiful culture and heritage.”

PATA also announced its theme for 2020— ‘Partner- ships for Tomorrow’— in line with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hardy shared, “The world is seeing dramatic social, political, environmental and economic changes, particularly in relation to the damage to our planet by climate change. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to work towards the development of a more responsible and sustainable travel and tourism industry. The challenges that we face are complex and require coordination from all industry stakeholders across all sectors. Only through concerted efforts can we preserve the world for the future.”

The annual theme will permeate all of the Association’s activities for the calendar year and be lever aged to drive greater strategic alignment and advanced planning between all PATA business units. Furthermore, PATA will use initiatives that include the theme as a multi-faceted PR campaign to drive greater media awareness of the need for a sustainable tomorrow, within the membership community and at large.

Apart from that, PATA, in partnership with ADB Ventures and Plug and Play, also launched Travel Lab Asia (TLA), Asia’s only corporate innovation programme focused on sustainability in travel.

Hardy said, “As PATA’s mission is to act as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region, we are excited to announce the launch of Travel Lab Asia in partnership with ADB Ventures and Plug and Play. The travel and tourism industry is recognising that responsible business practices must embrace innovative measures to offset the potentially irreversible damage to our planet caused by climate change, however, the availability of technology is constraining them from going beyond quick solutions. Travel Lab Asia provides them the opportunity to find the right solutions for their needs.”