UNWTO and PATA Sign New Strategic Partnership Agreement

Advancing economic diversification, cultural and environmental preservation through tourism are the key objectives of a new Strategic Partnership signed between the UNWTO and PATA.

The partnership includes a series of projects, such as a PATA/UNWTO Forum on Marketing Outlook and joint research.

The first research initiative will address air connectivity and its impact on tourism in the Asia Pacific region, and is expected to be implemented this year, in collaboration with the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia Pacific cities (TPO).

Other topics include visa facilitation, taxation, aviation policies as well as consumer and enterprise protection.

“We are proud to further deepen our relationship with PATA, a leading voice of tourism in Asia Pacific,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “In providing market intelligence, setting global standards and joining our voices to advocate for the value of tourism, this partnership will help the continued growth of tourism in Asia and the spreading of its socio-economic benefits in one of the most dynamic regions of the world.”

The UNWTO/PATA partnership builds on a track record of successful joint activities, such as the annual UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook, launched in 2007 in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Municipal Government of Guilin in China.