‘Building the Business Beyond Profits’ was the theme of the Pacific Asia Travel Association conference held this weekend at The Royale Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Chief Executive Martin Craigs said: “One message is that you need to use technology as an ally but it is still important to deal with people in 3D – not just on a cold 2D screen. You need to meet and you need to travel – it is life’s most enriching experience.”
He added that the conference theme is also pertinent to young people in the industry – two events, a youth forum and an entrepreneurs’ challenge, were specifically aimed at younger participants.
PATA’s series of one-day Hub City Forums, already held in Hong Kong and Bangkok, will visit Sydney on 16th October and Wellington on 18th October, followed by events in Delhi and Taipei in 2013. Issues to be discussed will include the aviation and travel taxes being imposed by the UK and other European governments and mPower, PATA’s new research and data tool that embraces new technologies and social media.
During PATA’s conference in Kuala Lumpur, Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau highlighted the first Malaysia International Tourism Exchange, MITE 2012, which will be held from 31st May – 3rd June 2012 at Malaysia Agro-Expansion Park Serdang, Selangor, and will include 300 hosted buyers.
