Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) UK & Ireland has announced five new committee members.
Nominated by the existing board and committee, PATA has welcomed:
- Jonathan Goldsmith, Head of Product Sales at cazenove+loyd
- John Parker, Product Manager at Premier Holidays
- Gavin Dixon, Product Manager at Freedom Destinations
- Fiona Scott-Evans, Product & Contract Manager at BA Holidays
- Tom Masson, Sales Manager at Air New Zealand
Commenting on the expansion, Chairman Chris Crampton said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome these new voices to the PATA team, each brings a wealth of industry experience and knowledge and will be a great asset to the organisation. Their individual insight, from trade sales and luxury to tailormade travel and consumer trends will be invaluable. Their addition broadens the scope of PATA’s knowledge and ability to provide our members and travel agent network with the most productive events and training options based on real-time market and industry trends.”
The PATA STARS programme draws on the strength of the committee to provide the latest comment and data to support agents selling the region.
Commenting on joining PATA UK & Ireland, John Parker of trade operator Premier Holidays, said: “I have always been passionate about promoting travel to the Asia Pacific region and joining the PATA committee offers a great platform to work with others to further raise the region’s profile and develop business opportunities. In particular, I am keen to advocate the increasing importance of responsible and sustainable travel as well as the promotion of lesser-known regions alongside those core destinations that the Asia Pacific is so famous for.”
Mr Parker shared his predictions for the region for 2025 noting: “We will see continued growth in business to some of the traditionally smaller/lesser-known resorts in our Far East destinations. We are already seeing this with the bookings for the year ahead. For example, whilst business into Phuket has flat-lined a little, Khao Lak, Krabi and even the smaller islands of Phi Phi, Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi in Thailand have seen really strong growth. Likewise, in Malaysia, the island of Langkawi is outselling Penang and in Bali, we are seeing places like Uluwatu grow whilst the much bigger resort of Nusa Dua has seen a little bit of a drop in numbers.”
2025 is set to be yet another exciting year for PATA with a full calendar of events for agents due to be announced next month.
Travel businesses interested in joining PATA as a member can enjoy the same great benefits plus new training opportunities for 2025 at the same price as last year as membership prices have been locked, providing excellent value to airlines, tour operators, tourism boards, hotels and representation companies connected to the Asia Pacific.
