PATA Gold Awards 2004 open until 15 December 2003

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is now accepting entries for its PATA Gold Awards 2004.

"The Awards recognise excellence, innovation and dedication across many aspects of tourism development, including environment, marketing, education and training, heritage and culture, travel journalism, public relations and advertising," said PATA President and CEO, Mr. Peter de Jong.

PATA Gold Awards 2004, sponsored by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), will be the largest ever as 11 new awards have been included. The carrier category has expanded to offer nine awards, recognising air, land and water carriers operating in domestic, regional and international markets. There is also a new PATA Gold Award for spa operators and another for electronic newsletter excellence. The PATA Grand Awards apply to best-of-show entries in the following Award categories: Environment, Marketing, Education & Training, and Heritage & Culture.

"The MGTO is proud to have had the opportunity to sponsor the Gold Awards for the past eight years, and again in 2004. We believe it is essential that the government and industry work closely together to further tourism development," said MGTO Director, Mr. Joao Costa Antunes. "We are looking forward to meeting all the delegates participating in the prestigious Gold Awards during the 53rd PATA Annual Conference to be held on Jeju Island, Korea (ROK)."

Award recipients will be honoured at the 53rd PATA Annual Conference in Jeju, Korea (ROK), during a special luncheon on April 19. Winners will also receive exposure in the PATA 2004 Conference Daily newspaper and their entries will be on display at the Conference for all delegates to enjoy.

The Gold Awards programme is open to PATA-member organisations only, with the following exceptions: PATA chapters may enter the Environment, Heritage & Culture and Education & Training categories. The Travel Journalism category is open to all published writers and photographers. The closing date for entries is December 15, 2003.