PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said, “As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Pacific Asia Travel Association, we are honoured to recognise our long-standing members whose continued support, trust, and collective voice have been instrumental in the growth, strength, and relevance of the Association. Their commitment continues to shape a more responsible and sustainable future for tourism across the Asia Pacific region.”

Organisations: 70 Years of Membership

Guam Visitors Bureau (since 1951), represented by Régine Lee, President & CEO.

Hawaii Tourism Authority (since 1951), represented by Jadie Goo, Acting Chief Brand Officer and Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research.

Kinki Nippon Tourist Co Ltd (since 1956), represented by Hiroshi Tanimura, Executive Director of the International Affairs Department, JATA, and Secretary General, PATA Japan Chapter, on behalf of Katsuo Aso, Senior Manager, Global Business Department, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd.

Philippine Department of Tourism (since 1951), represented by Dr Erwin Balane, Tourism Attaché.

Other organisations with over 70 years of membership that were unable to attend included Destination NSW, Marianas Visitors Authority, Tahiti Tourisme, and Tourism Fiji.

Organisations: 60 Years of Membership

Global Tour Ltd (since 1962), represented by Henry Oh, Chairman.

Hong Kong Tourism Board (since 1957), represented by Yoon-Ho Kim, Director – Korea.

Japan Association of Travel Agents (since 1963), represented by Hiroshi Tanimura, Executive Director of the International Affairs Department at JATA, Secretary General of PATA Japan Chapter.

Korea Tourism Organisation (since 1963), represented by Kyungsoo Yang, Executive Vice President.

Macao Government Tourism Office (since 1958), represented by Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director.

Nepal Tourism Board (since 1965), represented by Rohini Prasad Khanal, Officiating Director.

Smith’s Motor Boat Service Inc (since 1965), represented by Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research, Hawaii Tourism Authority, on behalf of Kamika Smith, General Manager, Smith’s Motor Boat Service, Inc.

Taiwan Tourism Administration (since 1958), represented by Yi-Chen Huang, Chief Secretary.

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (since 1957), represented by Natapol Vanichkul, Head of Sales, Northern.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (since 1959), represented by Watcharaphan Bunnag, Chief of International Relations.

Tourism Malaysia (since 1959), represented by Kamilia Hani Abdul Halim, Director, Tourism Malaysia Seoul

World Express Group (since 1961), represented by Tunku Iskandar, Partner, on behalf of Tan Chee Chye, Chairman.

Yeti Travels Pvt Ltd (since 1966), represented by Suja Shakya, Senior Manager – Sales & Marketing.

Other organisations with over 60 years of membership that were unable to attend included DTH Destination (Thailand) Limited, Hecny Transportation Ltd, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Okinawa Tourist Service Inc, Orient Express Private Ltd, Soaltee Hotel Limited, and Tobu Top Tours Co Ltd.

Organisations: 50 Years of Membership

All Nippon Airways Co Ltd (since 1973), represented by Yasuyuki Suzuki, Senior Director, Tourism and Regional Revitalisation, 

Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (since 1967), represented by Yeonhee Cho, Director of Sales — GSO Korea, and Simon Lloyd, Dean, Hospitality Management and Business Administration, Dusit Thani College.

PACTO DMC INDONESIA (since 1972), represented by Raty Ning, President Director.

Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (since 1967), represented by Lesley Timothy, Executive Officer.

Tourism Solomons (since 1970), represented by Dagnal Dereveke, Acting Chief Executive Officer.

Other organisations with over 50 years of membership that were unable to attend included India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (ITDC), Messe Berlin / ITB Berlin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan, and PanTravel.

(Source: PATA)

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ATIA cancelled AVG’s accreditation on 22 August 2022 after the company failed to meet the financial and ethical standards required to remain in the scheme. AVG continued to trade and sell tour packages after that date without ATIA Accreditation.

ATIA’s accreditation scheme sets the highest standards in the Australian travel industry. Last year, 22% of accreditation applications were rejected for failing to meet those standards. Accredited businesses are subject to ongoing monitoring, and accreditation is cancelled where standards are not met.

A public register of all cancelled and withdrawn accreditations is available at afta.com.au/Accreditation/Cancelled-Withdrawn-ATAS-Participants. 

Customers of ATIA Accredited businesses also have access to a formal complaints and dispute resolution process, giving them an independent avenue to resolve issues if something goes wrong.

ATIA is progressing a proposed merger with the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO). A key goal of that merger is to combine the strengths of both accreditation schemes into a stronger framework for businesses and consumers.

Travellers can check whether a business holds current ATIA Accreditation at Find ATIA Accredited Travel Agents & Tour Operators. 

ATIA CEO Dean Long commented in the press statement: “The message to consumers is clear — always check that ATIA accredits your travel agent or tour operator. We had a 22% rejection rate of applications last year. We take pride in the people that we removed from the scheme for not meeting our standards.”

“ATIA Accreditation is the highest benchmark in the travel industry. It comes with an excellent consumer complaint processing process, which means even if something goes wrong, you have an independent umpire to help you settle any disputes.

“One of the reasons why we have been working so hard on the details of the proposed merger with CATO is to bring the best of both accreditation schemes together. This situation underscores exactly why that work matters.”

About ATIA (www.atia.travel)
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s AUD69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.

(Source: ATIA)

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Hosted on src.pata.org, the programme comprises short courses developed by two PATA members, EarthCheck and The Sigmund Project, with self-paced learning and content focused on relevant tourism knowledge. The target group are entry-level to senior professionals, Entrepreneurs and SMEs, and government and tourism organisations.

Learners will also be awarded with digital certificates upon completion.

PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said: “At PATA, one of our core aims has always been to support the industry through knowledge sharing and collaboration. Through this initiative, we hope to make practical learning more accessible and flexible, while drawing on the expertise and experiences of PATA’s global network. We believe that by sharing knowledge and learning from one another, we can help tourism stakeholders across the region grow, adapt, and move forward together.”

Initial courses available under the programme 

Integrating ESG into Tourism SMEs – EarthCheck
The course offers practical ESG strategies for small tourism businesses to build more sustainable operations and improve efficiency. Participants will learn simple, cost-effective actions that can deliver measurable environmental and social impact.

AI-Powered Marketing for Tourism Professionals – The Sigmund Project
The course offers practical applications of AI to create faster and smarter marketing campaigns, produce content, advertisements, and branding materials, and significantly reduce marketing time and production costs.

The courses are now accessible at src.pata.org/online-courses.

(Source: PATA)

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The newly elected Board members will serve alongside the association’s ongoing Board members, further strengthening PATA’s collective expertise and representation across the travel and tourism industry, including the public and private sectors, academia, chapters, and youth representatives from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

The announcement follows the unveiling of PATA’s new Chair and Executive Board line-up earlier during the Summit.

“PATA’s strength lies in the diversity, experience, and commitment of its members,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “We are pleased to welcome these newly elected Board members and look forward to working together as we continue to advance a more responsible, inclusive, and resilient tourism industry.”

Newly elected PATA board members

Bangkok University, represented by Duangthida Nunthapirat, Dean, International Programmes

Crescentrating Pte Ltd, represented by Fazal Bahardeen, CEO

Global Success Learning Academy Sdn Bhd, represented by Jonathan Low, Managing Director

Global Tourism Economy Research Centre, represented by Mr Jason Wang, Chief Operating Officer

Graduate School of Tourism Management, National Institute of Development Administration, represented by Dr Paithoon Monpanthong, GSTM Programmes Director

Hotelbeds Pte Ltd, represented by Mr Justin Ong, Regional Manager, APAC

Intrepid Travel, represented by Mike Stewart, Regional General Manager SEA

Jetwing Hotels Ltd, represented by Dmitri Cooray, Managing Director

PATA Face of the Future 2025, Yeji Cho, Assistant Manager, Korea Tourism Organisation

PATA Hong Kong School of Hotel & Tourism Management (SHTM) Student Chapter, represented by Thomas Wan, Chairman

PATA Nepal Chapter, represented by Khem Lakai, Chairman

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), represented by Dr Supawan Teerarat, President

Tourism Malaysia, represented by Datuk Musa Yusof, Deputy Director General (Promotion)

TripAdvisor, represented by Fabrizio Orlando, Global Industry Relations Director

Wakayama University, represented by Dr Kumi Kato, Professor

Ongoing PATA Board Members

The newly elected members will join the following ongoing Board members:

Booking.com B.V., represented by Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, represented by Dileep Mudadeniya, Senior Vice President Global Alliances & Partnerships

Dusit Thani College, represented by Simon Lloyd, Dean – Hospitality Management and Business Administration

Guilin Tang Dynasty Tours Co Ltd, represented by Michael Zhou, President

Hong Kong Tourism Board, represented by Anthony Lau, Executive Director

Korea Tourism Organisation, represented by Sunghyeuck Park, President

Macau International Airport Company Ltd, represented by Eric Fong, Marketing Director

Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation, represented by Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director

Pacific Leisure (Thailand) Ltd, represented by Watana Limnararat, Managing Director

PATA Hawaii Chapter, represented by Jennifer Chun, Chairperson

Sanya Tourism Board, represented by Hao Zhang, Vice Director

Saudi Tourism Authority, represented by Mr Alhasan Aldabbagh, President – APAC Market

Soaltee Hotel Limited, represented by Dinesh Bista, Executive Chairman

Taiwan Tourism Administration, represented by Yu-Hsiu Chen, Director-General

Tourism Authority of Thailand, represented by Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor

Venture Travel (Temple Tigers) Nepal, represented by Brajesh Mishra, Director

The Board plays a key role in guiding the association’s strategic direction and supporting its mission to share knowledge, enable networking, and protect tourism economy assets through innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.

(Source: PATA)

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Following his appointment as PATA Chair, Oh said: “I am honoured to be elected by members of the PATA Board of Directors to take on this role. As the new Chair, I am committed to strengthening collaboration within the association, while building partnerships across the industry, so that PATA continues to serve as a guiding force for our members and network.”

He takes over from Chair Peter Semone, who has completed two terms of two years each as the association’s Chair.

Alongside Oh, Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador of Centara Hotels & Resorts, was appointed the new Vice Chair. 

Four new members of the Executive Board were ratified during the AGM. They are: Jackson Pek, Chief Corporate & Legal Affairs Officer, Amadeus; Maria Paz Alberto, President, Ark Travel Express, Inc; Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Director-General, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA); and Shuichi Kameyama, Chief Consultant, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co. 

They will join Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor, CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board, who will remain a member of the PATA Executive Board.

Henry Oh is Chairman of Global Tour, Ltd, South Korea’s first private travel agency and one of the earliest Asian members of PATA. His strategic direction has earned the company both national and international recognition, including the Korean Government’s ‘20 Million Dollar Award’ and the ‘Tourism Pioneer Award’ from ITB Berlin.

He is currently the Immediate Past Chairman of the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA).

Ben Montgomery, the new Vice Chair of the association, represents Centara in various industry councils and associations. She currently serves as Vice President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) and a Board Member of the ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association. She represents Centara at the Joint Public & Private Working Committee to develop workforce capacity for Thailand’s hotel and tourism industry.

Before joining Centara, Ben once served as the Regional Director – Greater Mekong and Director of Chapter Development at PATA headquarters.

(Source: PATA)

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The award ceremony was held on Monday, 11 May, during the PATA Executive Board & Board Member and PATA Awards Presentation Dinner, at Lahan Hotel in Pohang, Korea (ROK). 

PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid congratulated award recipients and the new Life Members, stating: “I would like to congratulate all the recipients and express how proud we are of their immense contributions to PATA and the wider tourism industry. Each of these changemakers has helped shape the association through their leadership, integrity, and commitment to advancing our community, playing an important role in PATA’s continued growth and relevance.”

PATA Life Membership goes to SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications Private Limited, and Suman Pandey, Group Chairman, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure. As the association’s highest individual honour, the award recognises individuals for their leadership and dedication to PATA.

The association also honoured Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts, and Judy Torres, Deputy Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority, with the PATA Awards of Merit for their consistent contributions to PATA and its chapter network.

Beyond strengthening relations between Centara and the owners of Centara-managed hotels and representing the brand in various industry councils and associations, Montgomery serves as Vice President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), a Board Member of the ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association, and represents Centara at the Joint Public & Private Working Committee to develop workforce capacity for Thailand’s hotel and tourism industry.

Torres is the Deputy Managing Director of the Marianas Visitors Authority with over 30 years of experience in tourism administration, destination marketing, research management, and public relations in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

The PATA Chairman’s Award goes to Kornchalee Tantimongkonsakul, Corporate Affairs, PATA, in recognition of the exceptional behind-the-scenes support she has provided to the Chair during his tenure, as well as her commitment, professionalism, and dedicated service to the association.

(Source: PATA)

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Switzerland Tourism is the destination marketing organisation responsible for promoting Switzerland as a travel destination. Working in partnership with the tourism industry and the public sector, it positions the country as a high-quality, sustainable and year-round destination for leisure and business travel.

Headquartered in Zurich, ST is active in 35 offices across 21 source markets in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. In total, the organisation has around 280 employees, corresponding to 255 full-time equivalents (FTEs).

WTTC President & CEO Gloria Guevara said: “Switzerland is known for its unique alpine landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and wide range of year-round experiences for both leisure and business travellers. We look forward to working together to support sustainable tourism growth and further strengthen Switzerland’s position as a high-quality destination on the global stage.”

Switzerland Tourism CEO Martin Nydegger said: “Joining WTTC enables Switzerland Tourism to engage more closely with global tourism leaders, contribute Swiss perspectives to international discussions, and help advance a tourism sector that is sustainable, resilient and economically strong. As a nationally mandated, but independently managed body co-financed by taxpayers and industry partners, Switzerland Tourism wants to benefit from WTTC’s industry-led ecosystem, which facilitates direct engagement with global business leaders.”

(Source: WTTC)

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During the 26th Agency Programme Joint Council (APJC) Malaysia Meeting held on 4 May 2026, MATTA rejected the implementation of the new remittance frequency, saying discussions on this matter remain incomplete and counterproposals, along with concrete industry concerns, have not been fully addressed. 

“Despite this, IATA Malaysia insisted on proceeding, citing internal resolutions and directives from its headquarters, a position MATTA formally disputes,” MATTA said in a press statement.

MATTA emphasises that travel agencies in Malaysia are not IATA members but operate as IATA-accredited agents under the Passenger Agency Programme. As the national association representing these accredited agents, MATTA consistently advocates for transparent, consultative engagement on all regulatory and procedural matters impacting the industry.

“Any change that affects the financial and operational stability of accredited agents must be developed through a fair, transparent, and consultative process,” MATTA Vice President of Air Transportation, Dr Fazil Khan, stated. “The decision announced by IATA Malaysia does not reflect such a process.”

MATTA further clarified that, as IATA-accredited entities, each travel agency and tour operator must independently decide whether to comply with the new remittance frequency. MATTA does not have the authority to compel compliance or non-compliance.

Accordingly, MATTA will not assume responsibility for any consequences or adverse actions taken by IATA against agencies that choose not to comply with the revised requirements.

MATTA will escalate this matter to the Passenger Agency Programme Global Joint Council (PAPGJC) for further deliberation to secure a more balanced and equitable outcome for Malaysian-accredited agents.

MATTA remains committed to safeguarding the interests of the travel agency community and will continue to engage constructively with all relevant stakeholders.

(Source: MATTA)

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ATIA showcases the work of accredited travel agents and tour operators across mainstream and social media, and those on ATIA’s Media Roster have been quick to share case studies and their love of their roles.

ATIA is running a full social media activation today and throughout the week, with member callouts on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. ATIA-accredited members have a kit in their inbox right now to bring the campaign into their shopfront and client communications.

Members can amplify their profile on the day by downloading the ATIA-branded tile suite, printing the in-store poster, and using the client email template, all of which are in the kit distributed this week. 

ATIA CEO Dean Long commented: “On Global Travel Advisors Day, we want everyone to help celebrate our members and the tremendous work and commitment they bring in supporting every client. This year, the stories are again extraordinary with clients protected, thousands saved, and disasters turned into highlights. ATIA is running the national campaign so our members can focus on what they do best: taking care of their clients.”

About ATIA (www.atia.travel)
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s AUD69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.

(Source: ATIA)

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MATTA President, Nigel Wong, said the shift towards electric mobility in tourism must be understood as a systemic transformation that extends beyond transport policy alone, involving energy planning, financial mechanisms, infrastructure development, and tourism governance.

He explained that without strong coordination between ministries and industry stakeholders, efforts to electrify tourism vehicles would remain fragmented and insufficient to achieve a meaningful impact.

“This is not simply about replacing petrol and diesel vehicles. It is about building a practical ecosystem that enables tourism operators to adopt EVs confidently, affordably, and at scale,” Wong explained.

MATTA highlighted international examples where strong, coordinated government action has successfully accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles across transport systems, including tourism mobility. 

Examples of EV uptake

In Norway, a comprehensive ecosystem of incentives, supportive policies, and an extensive nationwide charging network has driven widespread EV uptake, extending to rental car fleets that service key tourist routes, including fjords and other scenic travel corridors.

Across the European Union, coordinated climate policies within the broader decarbonisation framework have supported cities like Amsterdam and Paris in transitioning tourism transport services, including hotel shuttles and sightseeing fleets, towards electric mobility, with regulatory measures such as low-emission zones.

In China, strong state-led coordination has enabled rapid electrification, particularly in cities such as Shenzhen, where entire public bus fleets have transitioned to electric power. It demonstrates how large-scale tourism and urban transport systems can be transformed when infrastructure, incentives, and policy direction are aligned.

These international experiences demonstrate the importance of whole-of-government leadership in ensuring successful EV transitions.

“The common thread across these countries is not just investment in electric vehicles, but a coordinated policy and implementation framework that brings together energy, transport, and tourism under a unified direction,” said Wong.

He added that Malaysia already has a strong foundation through initiatives such as the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021–2030, which provides a strategic direction for reducing emissions in the transport sector while supporting economic development.

MATTA emphasised that Malaysia must now strengthen coordination across agencies to ensure the effective rollout of charging infrastructure at key tourism destinations, highways, and urban centres, and to provide targeted incentives to support tourism operators in transitioning their fleets to electric vehicles.

The association also highlighted the importance of integrating renewable energy into the EV ecosystem to ensure that emissions reductions are genuine and not shifted to other sectors.

MATTA also urged government-linked companies and public sector agencies to lead by example in adopting electric vehicles for official and tourism-related transport use, noting that public sector leadership would help build confidence and accelerate private sector adoption.

“Tourism is one of Malaysia’s most important economic sectors. If we want to remain competitive globally, we must align ourselves with international sustainability trends and ensure our mobility systems reflect that direction.”

Wong concluded that a whole-of-government approach is not only necessary but urgent, as it provides the coordination, scale, and policy certainty required to transform tourism mobility in a meaningful and sustainable way.

(Source: MATTA)

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