PUSHING THE ENVELOPE AS AFRICAN AND ASIA PACIFIC TRAVEL ORGANIZATIONS CLOSE RANKS
(Posted 02nd September 2016)
The Africa Travel Association (ATA) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) have agreed to cooperate in a number of areas including market intelligence and proprietary research, conferences and events, advocacy themes, and grassroots development through chapter networks.
A Memorandum of Understanding between PATA and ATA, a division of the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), is set to strengthen the tourism links between the continent of Africa and the Asia Pacific region.
ATA will also contribute content for the PATA monthly Visitor Economy Bulletin and for the dedicated PATA website on sustainability. in turn will PATA be seeking to use the good offices of the Africa Travel Association to strengthen further its presence throughout the continent.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority recently became the first government member from Africa to join the Pacific Asia Travel Association as was reported here at the time from on site in Bulawayo, where the development was announced to the media and general public on the sidelines of the annual Sanganai World Tourism Expo. It is understood that this widening of PATA’s membership has triggered a range of enquiries from other countries in Africa to begin discussions with PATA to also join the organization’s ranks.
PATA’s CEO Dr. Mario Hardy, when making the announcement said: ‘I am very pleased that there is shared determination within our organizations to forge this new Memorandum of Understanding into a worthwhile partnership that produces tangible and mutually beneficial benefits for ATA, PATA and all our members. The demand from source markets across the Asia Pacific to visit tourist destinations in Africa is unprecedented. We look forward to helping ATA and the nations of Africa as they bid to maintain a balanced and sustainable approach to managing even greater numbers of visitors to some of the world’s most famous attractions and landmarks‘.
Stephen Hayes, President & CEO of CCA, short for the Corporate Council on Africa, in his response then pointed out: ‘We believe an active Memorandum of Understanding with PATA is important to our plans to strengthen tourism to Africa. The potential for tourism in Africa is enormous and it offers very significant opportunities for business as well as environmental awareness. We couldn’t ask for a better partner‘.
The two giant industry associations are together covering some of the most sought after destinations around the globe and promoting travel from and to the two geographical areas is bound to be of mutual benefit to the members of both ATA and PATA.
The next ATA Annual World Congress will take place this year in the Rwandan capital of Kigali between the 14th and 17th of November and as in previous years can live reports from the proceedings be expected to feature on Twitter, this blog and other social media platforms.
About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 97 government, state and city tourism bodies; 29 international airlines, airports and cruise lines; 63 educational institutions and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond.
Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 41 local PATA chapters worldwide that organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership of the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC) which embraces ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC.
The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney and London.
More details at: www.pata.org.
About ATA
CCA, the leading U.S. business association focused on African business and investment, acquired ATA in January 2016. The Africa Travel Association (ATA), a division of Corporate Council on Africa, is the leading global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. Established in 1975, ATA serves both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. ATA membership comprises African governments, their tourism ministers, tourism bureaus and boards, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, front-line travel sellers and providers, tour operators and travel agents, and affiliate industries. ATA partners with the African Union Commission (AU) to promote the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa. ATA’s annual events in the USA and across Africa bring together industry leaders to shape Africa’s tourism agenda and to stay up-to-date on Africa’s latest tourism trends, issues and products.
For more information about ATA, visit http://www.africatravelassociation.org.
