PATA Gold Awards & Face of the Future Winners Announced! 👏🎉 It's a wrap for PTM 2026

 

Congratulations to the Grand Title winners, Sarawak Tourism Board and Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, and all Gold Awards winners for their exceptional achievements!  With their dedication toward excellence, Asia Pacific Tourism continues to forge a better path of resilience and sustainability. Read the press release > Check out the winner projects Celebrate the Next Gen of Tourism Leaders  We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 PATA Face of the Future Award—exceptional young professionals from Mongolia, Thailand, Bhutan, New Zealand, and Malaysia who are driving innovation, sustainability, and meaningful growth across the Asia-Pacific region! A huge congratulations to our Grand Winner Lizam Dorji, CEO, MICE Bhutan and winners for special recognitions. Read the press release > Get to know the winners PATA UPDATES AWARDS PATA Chapter & Student Chapter Awards Congratulations to our global Chapters and Student Chapters for their exceptional leadership and community engagement! Celebrate with us > Special Recognition was also extended to 13 Chapters and 6 Student Chapters for their unwavering support.  Best Newcomer Award: Hong Kong Metropolitan University Student Chapter  Outstanding Industry Engagement Award: India Chandigarh University Student Chapter  Best Engagement with Young Tourism Professionals Award:  Malaysia Chapter & Thailand Chapter  Best Sustainability Initiative Award: Thailand Mae Fah Luang University Student Chapter  Award of Excellence: Malaysia Chapter, Nepal Chapter, Malaysia Taylor's Student Chapter  Spirit of PATA Award: PATA India Chapter PATA BOARD New Executive Board Members Announced We are pleased to announce the election and ratification of new members to PATA's Executive Board! Our leadership team looks forward to driving PATA’s strategic priorities across the Asia-Pacific region. MEMBERSHIP Welcome New Members We are delighted to welcome three new members to the PATA Community:  ABTour  EU & Beyond Travel Services Inc.  The Green Lion Learn more about our members >

EVENT It's a Wrap for PTM 2026!  Thank you all for joining us in Sarawak, Malaysia.  It was wonderful reconnecting with longtime friends and building new relationships across our global community. Check out the event photos here > PATA MEMBER & CHAPTER UPDATES DESTINATION Tourism Solomons Announces Andrew Nihopara as New CEO   Tourism Solomons has appointed Andrew Nihopara as its new Chief Executive Officer, filling a leadership role that remained vacant for over five years. With more than two decades of public-sector and regional tourism experience across the Pacific—including past leadership roles at the Pacific Tourism Organisation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism—Nihopara steps in to elevate the destination’s global presence. Read about his vision for international visitor growth > DESTINATION Official Launch of Sanya Tourism’s “Passport-Friendly” Initiative   To celebrate the launch of island-wide special customs operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port, Sanya has introduced the "GO CHINA IN SANYA" for international visitors. Running through July 2027, the campaign invites foreign passport holders to share original social media posts using #GoChinaInSanya to unlock exclusive tiered discounts across participating duty-free complexes, luxury hotels, top attractions, and major commercial districts citywide. Read more > INSIGHTS JTB Outbound Travel Report 2026 Now Available   Featured in the August 2026 issue of Tourism in Focus, the JTB Outbound Travel Report 2026 provides comprehensive insights into Japan’s evolving travel market. The annual publication details a 13.3% year-on-year increase to 14.73 million outbound Japanese travellers in 2025. Combining official statistics with proprietary research, the report offers crucial market intelligence on shifting demographics, emerging youth values, and key destination preferences. Grab a copy > PATA CHAPTER Nepal Mourns the Loss of a Global Mountaineering Icon — Nims Dai and Team   The PATA Nepal Chapter has expressed its deepest condolences following the tragic loss of legendary mountaineer Nirmal "Nims Dai" Purja and his expedition team in an avalanche on Broad Peak, Pakistan. Honoured as a global icon who elevated Nepal's mountaineering heritage and inspired adventurers worldwide, Purja's remarkable legacy remains unshakeable. The tourism fraternity stands in solidarity with the grieving families, offering prayers and mourning this profound loss to the international climbing community.   MORE MEMBER & CHAPTER NEWS Tags: PATA