Hosted by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and co-hosted by SJM Resorts, S.A., this three-day summit, themed ‘Reimagining Tourism,’ emphasizes the potential for a groundbreaking transformation in the Asia Pacific tourism industry. This transformation aims to create a more resilient and sustainable future for travel and tourism in the years ahead.
“While sustainability remains a focal point, this year’s summit will certainly delve into broader discussions, thought provoking conversation, encompassing areas such as travel technology trends, marketing strategies, tourism policy, and cultural advancements. It will catalyse positive change transcending current norms across various dimensions of tourism,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.
He continued, “PATA extends its sincerest gratitude to the Macao Government Tourism Office and SJM Resorts for their invaluable support in bringing this event to fruition. With the collective effort of all parties involved, coupled with Macao’s captivating destination, I am happy to inform you that we have achieved the highest number of delegate registrations for the PATA Annual Summit since the end of the pandemic. I am thrilled to see that when PATA members come together in full force at such a flagship event like the PATA Annual Summit, it will present an opportunity for the Association to come into full form that can recalibrate the strength of what PATA is all about. We can only get stronger when we are together. Hence, it is our hope that members from across the world will seize this opportunity to find touch-points to collaborate with each other as the travel and tourism industry is recovering to its fullest potential.”
Macao Government Tourism Office Director, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes said, “We are looking forward to welcoming the PATA Annual Summit 2024 and extending the best of Macao hospitality to ensure a successful event. It has been several years since our destination last staged a PATA flagship event, and it will be a great opportunity to provide delegates from across the Asia Pacific region with a first-hand experience about the new dynamic development of Macao as a world center of tourism and leisure.”
Esteemed speakers slated for the main conference include Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes from the Macao Government Tourism Office; Daisy Ho from SJM Resorts, S.A.; Dane Cheng from the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Florian Sengstschmid from the Azerbaijan Tourism Board; Fathmath Thaufeeq from the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation; Manisha Saxena from the Ministry of Tourism in India; Pansy Ho from Shun Tak Holdings Limited; David Fowler from Visa; Mich Goh from Airbnb, and others.
Additional confirmed speakers encompass a diverse range of industry experts such as Raki Phillips from Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Gerry Perez from Guam Visitors Bureau, YB Dato Dennis Ngau from Sarawak Tourism Board, Peter Semone from PATA, Andrew Staples from Economist Impact, Chris Cocker from Pacific Tourism Organisation, and several others.
The PATA Annual Summit 2024 program includes a variety of sessions and activities. The summit kicks off with internal meetings, a Life Members Get-Together, a Power of Networking session, and an Education Roundtable. Day two features the PATA Youth Symposium, Government and Industry Roundtables, Government Bilateral Meetings, and the PATA Chapter Congress. Noteworthy additions this year are the PATA-WTCF China Dialogue and the PATA Kind Hearts initiative, both highlighting the summit’s focus on industry dynamics and community impact.
The main conference, spanning May 16th to 17th, covers topics like the world economy, marketing in Asia Pacific tourism, business model innovation, travel policy, and more. Breakout sessions delve into areas such as travel technology, educational tourism, and the impact of AI on travel agents, fostering critical discussions in line with the theme of Reimagining Tourism. Additionally, the summit emphasizes sustainability through initiatives like carbon neutrality and community engagement activities.
Tags: Noor Ahmad Hamid, PATA, Annual Summit in Macao, Travel Events in Macao, travel industry news
