The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has created a face-to-face business platform for buyers and sellers of ecotourism, adventure travel, agritourism, homestays and
geotourism.
The one-and-a-half day Mart component during the 1st PATA Sustainable Tourism Conference & Mart (October 23-26 in Banten, Western Java, Indonesia) will utilise private meeting areas with table-top set-ups to showcase sustainable tourism products and services.
The event aims to attract leading proponents, expert operators, and passionate advocates of sustainable tourism, said PATA Assistant Director-Events, Ms. Phenthip "Tik" Chomprang. "Having a strong buyer-seller mix is also central to the dynamics of the event which is more concerned with the art of the possible than rhetorical positions."
Ms. Chomprang said the table-top Mart element had been designed as a "cost-effective" way to trade in adventure travel and ecotourism, with up to 70 percent of the business meetings being scheduled in advance. The remainder will be arranged on-site at the event.
The educational segment of the Conference will feature the U.K.'s most popular botanist and ecologist, Dr. David Bellamy, who will deliver the keynote: "Tourism: The Way Ahead to Sustainability & Beyond."
Mr. Emil Salim, former Minister of Environment for Indonesia, is attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September. On his return to Indonesia he will update delegates at the PATA event on the issues raised in South Africa.
Delegates will also be have a chance to experience hands-on cultural audit exercises at off-site breakout locations in Indonesian villages.
The National Geographic Traveler/Conservation International Workshop session on "Geotourism" will look at real life examples exemplifying this subsector of sustainable tourism. The session will be delivered by Mr. Jonathan Tourtellot, Senior Editor at National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Ms. Maria Morgan's "Indigenous Preservation: Raising Awareness," will analyse viable ways of operating tourism in indigenous tribal communities, with reference to Western Australia.
Dr. Thomas Bauer's "Antarctic Tourism: Opportunities, Constraints and Future Prospects" will discuss challenges facing the world’s ultimate wilderness destination.
All attending delegates will be eligible for 50 percent discount off published fares to Indonesia on Garuda Indonesia airlines. Delegates departing from India will be eligible for 50 percent discount off published fares for India-Jakarta-India on Air India.
Banten, the event venue, is a 45-minute drive west of
Jakarta, Indonesia. |