Risk Mitigation and Crisis Recovery Management will be the theme of the upcoming ‘PATA Human Capacity Building Programme’ in Sabah, Malaysia. Hosted by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), the two-day intensive workshop will be held on April 17-18, 2019 at the Marriott Hotel Kota Kinabalu.
“Global economic losses from disasters are now reaching an average of US$250 to US$300 billion each year, and those costs could increase dramatically as we see the further effects of climate change on our planet. The travel and tourism industry is one of the most exposed to disasters with many tourist destinations located near hazard prone areas and foreign visitors being unfamiliar with the environment,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “It is critical for destinations and organisations to place a greater emphasis on both disaster risk reduction and response, particularly in the age of social media which adds an overwhelming complexity to one’s own crisis communication strategy.”
General Manager of Sabah Tourism Board, Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani said “STB is pleased to be working with PATA, the leading voice and authority on travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region. This workshop, the first such organised by PATA, will focus on providing participants with the international standards of handling a crisis specifically tailored to the travel and tourism industry.”
The programme will be led by Natasha Martin, Managing Director, Bannikin, Hong Kong SAR, and Dr. Bert van Walbeek, The Winning Edge, Thailand. The workshop will provide key insights on how destinations and organisations can prepare for the risks that can potentially evolve into a crisis and perhaps even a disaster.
Key takeaways from the workshop include:
- Managerial responsibilities to protect all tangible and intangible assets;
- Brand reputation and the ability to protect it;
- Effective social media strategies in times of crisis and controlling the message;
- Governance, by understanding that planning prevents poor performance;
- Crisis operation and communication capabilities, “Bouncing Back” better and faster after incidents and crises; and
- Organisational sustainability through a safe and secure working environment, thus retaining associates.
Participants that successfully complete the workshop will be awarded with ‘Certified Asia Pacific – Risk Mitigation and Crisis Recovery Management’ certificate.
The registration fee is USD400 per person and USD700 for 2 persons. The fee includes training, materials and meals listed on the official programme. The fee excludes air ticket and hotel accommodation.
Tags: PATA
