International delegates from 28 countries around the world marked their presence in the event
The PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023 (PDFM 2023) officially began on June 21 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. With a theme of Sustainability in Action, the event has attracted 272 delegates from both the public and private sectors from across 28 countries.
In a press statement, PATA says that the current edition aims to inspire some insightful discussions on the major issues in marketing and managing tourism growth as the travel and tourism industry looks for new opportunities to promote sustainability within the industry.
From climate action strategies to digital marketing, PATA says that the broad yet critical topics provided a clearer direction for the industry to embrace the new era of travel with greater responsibility and convert their plans into action.
It adds that international delegates from 28 countries around the world, including Australia, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (ROK), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and USA are attending the 3-day show.
Peter Semone
“The PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023, under the theme Sustainability in Action is extremely relevant as the industry begins its road to recovery. Climate change and over-tourism are existential threats to Pacific Asia’s visitor industry. Coming out of Covid-19, there are really only two options. Either ignore the environmental and social consequences of mass tourism in a business-as-usual manner, or seize the opportunity to recalibrate how we measure tourism success and account for its invisible burden. As we look towards the future, we need to take concrete actions and avoid the mistakes of the past,” says PATA Chair Peter Semone.
PATA says that on June 21, delegates had the opportunity to join one of three different routes where they could fully experience the destination’s responsible tourism, ecotourism, and gastronomy tourism offerings that highlighted Sarawakian culture, heritage, and history.
During the conference on June 23 and June 24, PATA adds, delegates will hear from a diverse line-up of experts from such organisations as World Tourism Organisation, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the Asian Ecotourism Network, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation, Intrepid Travel, Expedia Group Media Solutions and Sojern, as well as Audra Morrice, Masterchef Asia/and Singapore Host & Judge, to name a few.
“It is this type of collaboration with our destination partners, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts of Sarawak, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau, that epitomises the fundamental nature of PATA’s mission in acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. We as an industry must work together to create a better future for all by achieving long-term sustainability in conjunction with long-term growth and profitability,” adds Semone.
The statement says that a vast array of themes are to be covered, including ‘Sustainability in Action’, ‘Climate Action Strategies for Destinations & Operators’, ‘Recalculating the Measurements of Success’, ‘Tourism’s Role for Development’, ‘The Power of Gastronomy Tourism for Destinations’, ‘Setting Your Sustainability Goals and Executing them’, ‘Leveraging New Trends in Sustainable Forms of Tourism’ and ‘Using Digital Marketing to Drive Sustainability’. Buyers and sellers will also have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one networking and contracting opportunities during the table-top tradeshow to explore potential collaborations and business opportunities, the statement adds.
