PATA to bridge two islands, continents at 53rd PATA Annual Conference

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will link Jeju Island, Korea (ROK) with Oahu Island, Hawaii, during the 53rd PATA Annual Conference.

Through an audiovisual satellite feed, more than 50 guests of the PATA Hawaii Chapter and the University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management on Oahu, will participate in a plenary session about tourism investments, April 20, 0900-1030 (Jeju time).

They will listen to a presentation by Hong Kong Disneyland Group Managing Director, Mr. Don Robinson, and participate in a discussion with panel speakers and PATA delegates. 

Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor, Mr. Imtiaz Muqbil, will moderate the discussion, which will feature a panel of speakers comprising Mr. Arjun Thapan, Director-Social Sectors Division, Asian Development Bank; Dr. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, President & CEO, Bangkok Airways; Mr. Robert Hecker, Managing Director, Horwath Asia Pacific; and Mr. Robinson.

The plenary session will facilitate dialogue between investors, governments and hotel companies. Discussion points include:

- Private- and public-sector relationships in tourism investments

- The primary sources of tourism investment funds in Asia Pacific

- Hot sectors and destinations for tourism investment

- Business models offering biggest returns on investment

- Investor and lender perspectives

The satellite link is possible thanks to contributions from the PATA Hawaii Chapter, University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management, Outrigger Hotels and PATA.

This will be the first time a PATA Annual Conference has featured such a link.