BEYOND BUSINESS: MARKET WISDOM AND MEXICAN CULTURE

The 16th Pacific Asia Travel Association Americas Travel Mart in Mexico City, September 25-28, will offer more than business. Delegates can choose between a forward-looking seminar called The Potential, Trends and Forecasts for Pacific Asia’s Outbound Market, or an update on destination Mexico. Two complimentary tours will give first-hand insights into Mexico’s rich and varied culture.

The focus of the event, formerly called PATA-VUSAMART, is to promote destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico to travel planners from Pacific Asia.

Seminar session speaker Mr. Masato Takamatsu, Vice President, Japan Tourism Marketing, a subsidiary of Japan Travel Bureau Corp. Japan, will deliver the outbound forecast presentation on September 26. "Despite the recent slow down of the economy in Japan, the number of Japanese travelling overseas is still growing," he said. "New changes are highly visible, such as a boom in ‘new elders’ and family travel. However, travelling females in their 20s is a slowing sector.

"I will discuss how a destination can meet these changes taking place in the Japanese travel market, segment by segment." Mr. Takamatsu will also focus on new outbound market trends emerging in other Asian countries.

Delegates can also experience Mexico, a land of great geographical and cultural diversity, with two complimentary pre- and post- tours.

On the morning of September 25 the Historical and Modern Mexico tour will take in Zocalo main square, the third largest in the world, the National Palace, with its outstanding Diego Rivera murals, the Templo Mayor excavations showing the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, and the Cathedral with its historical chapels, altars and bells. The tour also visits Paseo de la Reforma Avenue and the highly acclaimed Anthropology Museum in Chapultepec Park.

On September 29 the Teotihuacan Pyramids day tour will visit the ancient city of Teotihuacan. Delegates can follow the walkways of the emperors and experience the grandeur of the Sun and the Moon Pyramids, the Deads' Causeway, Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl temples, the Place of the Gods, and other sites.

Ms. Rattana Sithi-Amnuai, PATA Assistant Director-Events said the PATA Americas Travel Mart was an ideal way for Pacific Asia travel planners to expand their North American tour portfolios. "If they’re going to travel to Mexico, they must also get out and about and see the amazing sites while there. It will open their eyes."

For further information contact Ms. Nanthinee (Nan) Emradee. Tel: (66-2) 658-2000 ext. 113. Fax: (66-2) 658-2010. E-mail: patm@pata.th.com. Delegates can book tours via e-mail at patm@pata.th.com by entering "Mexico tour booking" in the subject line.