PATA Annual Conference 2006 To Convene In Pattaya

[Jai Dee]

PATA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2006 TO CONVENE IN PATTAYA

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is to hold its 55th annual conference at the popular Thai beach resort of Pattaya between 23-27 April 2006 at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH).

It will be the fourth time for Thailand to host this prestigious event following the 18th PATA conference in 1969, the 31st conference in 1982 and the 45th conference in 1996.

However, the 2006 event will be the first time it will be held outside Bangkok. The PATA Board agreed with this choice as part of its desire to promote more secondary destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Pattaya won the bid at the PATA Board of Directors meeting in Bahrain in 2003.

The PATA conference 2006 is expected to be attended by around 1,500 senior executives from Asia-Pacific national tourism organisations, airlines, hotels, tour companies, researchers, consultants and other travel related organisations.

The main conference is accompanied by a number of committee and industry meetings to discuss specific industry subjects like sustainable tourism, marketing, research and human resources development.

Visitor expenditure generated by the conference is expected to be around 55 million baht (USD 1.41 million).

The 2006 conference theme of “Changing Lifestyles - New Opportunities” will focus on how fast-changing lifestyles and values can create new opportunities for travel and tourism businesses.

These include changing demographics, health and wellness, travel trends among the young, old and female travellers, technological issues, the low-cost airline phenomenon, and growth in short city-break holidays.

Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “Thailand has always shared a very special relationship with PATA, especially since it moved its headquarters from San Francisco to Bangkok in 1998.

“We held a very successful PATA Travel Mart in Bangkok in September 2004 and look forward to hosting the annual conference in Pattaya,” she said.

PATA President and CEO Peter de Jong said, "Thailand is one of the region's most popular quality travel destinations. It has embarked upon a programme of sustainable growth, especially destinations like Pattaya which has worked hard to reposition itself on the global tourism scene."

Located on the eastern coast bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Pattaya was once a popular R&R destination for American GIs in the Vietnam War.

Today, it has grown from a sleepy fishing village to a bustling city. Approximately two hours by road from Bangkok, it is accessible from the capital city by many highways.

Pattaya and other destinations along the east coast of Thailand are expected to benefit significantly from the opening of Bangkok’s second international airport in 2006.

Mrs. Juthamas also praised the choice of conference venue, PEACH, noting that it has received a number of awards, most recently being voted the "Best Meetings & Conventions Hotel" in the Asia-Pacific.

A multipurpose facility, it offers a unique combination of world-class service, renowned Thai hospitality, state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated team of convention-management specialists.

Source: TAT News - Tuesday, February 07, 2006