PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2012 (AT&RTCM 2012)

Programme as of January 12, 2012, subject to change.  Click here to print this programme in PDF file

Delegate Arrivals
Registrations, Hospitality, Tour and Transfer Desks

Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Complimentary half-day tour “Explore Paro Valley”
Note: one point of tour pick up at 1300 hours from Zhiwa Ling Hotel only. Delegates are requested to meet at the hotel lobby 10-minutes before the tour departure time.

Free at Leisure

For AT&RTCM2012 Delegates:
•    A full-day experiential take-away “ The Pursuit of Happiness” –  a visit to Thimphu                                                                                            (more information for this excursion/technical visit to be provided by ABTO/TCB)
Note: one point of tour pick up at 0900 hours from Zhiwa Ling Hotel only. Delegates are requested to meet at the hotel lobby 10-minutes before the tour departure time.

Registrations, Hospitality, Tour and Transfer Desks
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

E-Tourism Asia - New Media Boot Camp
A half-day workshop designed to bring closer opportunities on how to leverage the internet and emerging media channels, including web, social media, and search to reach and connect with consumers, develop products and learn about consumer insights.

Venue: Chele La Hall (1st floor), Zhiwa Ling Hotel
 
Speakers: - Mr Jens Thraenhart, Co-Founder & President, Dragon Trail, China
- Ms Kathy Dragon, Founder and CEO, TravelDragon.Com, USA

AT&RTCM2012 Welcome Dinner/Reception hosted by Tourism Council of Bhutan
Venue: Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Registrations; Hospitality, Tour and Transfer Desks
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

AT&RTCM2012 Opening Session
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

0900-0915     Welcome by Director General, Tourism Council of Bhutan, Mr Kesang Wangdi
0915-0930     Welcome by PATA CEO Chairman, Mr Hiran Cooray
0930-1000     Keynote Address: High Value Tourism, Low Impact Footprints
                             Keynote Speaker: Ms Anna Pollock, CEO, DestiCorp UK Ltd, UK
1000-1030     Keynote Interview

Networking (Coffee) Break hosted by CNN International
Venue: Open Grounds, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Plenary Session I: Challenges and Opportunities in Attracting and Retaining High Value, Low Impact Tourism
How can destinations attract high value tourists and keep them coming back? To what extent is “value” just about money? Surely it’s as much – or more – about high quality, authentic experiences that discerning visitors are willing to pay for? Are low impact footprints just environmental (and measurable)? Should a host community trade away its social values for “high value” or any value visitors?

Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Panel:    - Mr Rick Antonson, President and CEO, Tourism Vancouver, Canada
                   - Mr Thuji Dorji Nadik, Director (Specialist), Tourism Council of Bhutan
                   - Mr Shannon Stowell, President, Adventure Travel Trade Association, USA
                   - Ms Isabel Sebastian, Sustainability Advisor, Yangphel Adventure Travel & Zhiwa Ling Hotel, Bhutan
 
Moderator: Mr Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong

Delegate Lunch
Venue: Open Grounds, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Plenary Session II: High Value, Low Impact Tourism - best case studies from Bhutan, New Zealand, and Jiu Zhai Gou

Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Destinations: -      Bhutan: Gross National Happiness:
The term "Gross National Happiness" was coined in 1972 by the former Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuck who opened Bhutan to the age of modernization. He proclaimed that Gross National Happiness (GNH) is more important than Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  Today, governments and organizations around the world are beginning to apply the science of well-being to the policies they create. In Bhutan, a commission has been set up to ensure that GNH remains a guiding light in planning, policy making and implementation. Can GNH work outside of Bhutan?

Speaker: Mr. Karma Tsheetim, Secretary, Gross National Happiness Commission, Bhutan


           -    New Zealand: 100% Pure You
Tourism New Zealand's tourism marketing campaign is New Zealand 100% Pure You. The current campaign evolved from the iconic “New Zealand 100% Pure” brand, first launched in 1999. Find out how this global campaign has successfully influenced travellers in seeking not just a destination to look at and drive through, but one to experience with heart and soul by meeting with the locals and interacting with the land in a personal and meaningful way.

Speaker: Mr David Wilks, Director, Commercial Business, Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, New Zealand 

           - Jiu Zhai Gou, Sichuan - Managing Carrying Capacity
One of China’s most popular natural tourist attractions -- is a nature reserve and national park in the north of Sichuan province in south western China. It is known for its many multi-level waterfalls and colourful lakes. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It is a category V (Protected Landscape) in the IUCN system of protected area categorisation. However, rapid tourism development in Jiuzhaigou has challenged the notion of balance between tourist numbers and natural resource management. Current issues are: how to manage the number of tourists in scenic areas of the national park, how to expand the carrying capacity of the entire national park (it at all), and how to develop high quality services to enhance tourist satisfaction.

Speaker:    Mr Zhang Wei, Founder and President of Jpatao Planners and Architects, China    

Moderator: Mr Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong

Intervals

Plenary III: Private-Public sector successful collaboration
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Preservation and development of ancient villages in China
This session will analyze the value of protecting and utilizing ancient villages in China,  discuss existing problems and the dilemma in trying to both protect and develop ancient villages. Is preservation and development compatible?

Speaker: Mr Jens Thraenhart, Co-Founder & President, Dragon Trail, China

Strategies on reducing environment impact
Beyond greening what else can be done to reduce our environmental impact? This breakout session will assess some of Bhutan’s private-public collaborative strategies for a sustainable world.

Speaker: Dr Karma Tshering, Chief, Nature, Recreation & Ecotourism Division (NRED), Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan

Teaming up for good

Case studies from the six-nation Greater Mekong Sub-region that demonstrate positive impacts from public-private sector initiatives making a difference for local communities.

Speaker: Mr Mason Florence, Executive Director, Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), Thailand

Moderator: Mr Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong

Networking (Coffee) Break hosted by CNN International
Venue: Open Grounds, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Closing Address: Experiential and transformation travel
Someone with a strong belief and personal story to remind us all that great travel has the power to inspire and transform in many positive ways.

Speaker: Mr Costas Christ, President, Beyond Green Travel LLC/Editor and Columnist, National Geographic Traveler/Chairman, World Travel and Tourism Council -Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

AT&RTCM2012 Summary and Wrap up by PATA CEO
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Delegate Dinner (subject to confirmation of sponsorship)
Venue: TBC

Hospitality, Tour and Transfer Desks
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

"Meeting the Markets:  Challenges and Opportunities for Suppliers. 
Learn in this session some basic trends and interests of adventure travelers and the do's
and don'ts of connecting with international buyers"
(for registered seller delegates only)
  
Venue: Cele La Hall (1st level), Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Travel Mart Breakfast Briefing for registered buyer and seller delegates
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Travel Mart Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & VIP booth visit/walk around
Venue: Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Buyer-Seller Morning Appointments (10 sessions)    
Venue: Open car park, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

0930-0945  Appointment 1
0945-1000  Appointment 2
1000-1015   Appointment 3
1015-1030   Appointment 4
1030-1050   Networking (Coffee) Break hosted by CNN International
1050-1105   Appointment 5
1105-1120    Appointment 6
1120-1135    Appointment 7
1135-1150    Appointment 8
1150-1205   Appointment 9
1205-1220   Appointment 10

Delegate Lunch
Venue: Lobby, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Buyer-Seller Afternoon Appointments
Venue: Open car park, Zhiwa Ling Hotel

1400-1415    Appointment 11
1415-1430    Appointment 12
1430-1445   Appointment 13
1445-1500   Appointment 14
1500-1515    Appointment 15
1515-1530    Appointment 16
1530-1550    Networking (Coffee) Break hosted by CNN International
1550-1605   Appointment 17
1605-1720   Appointment 18
1720-1735   Appointment 19
1735-1750   Appointment 20

Dinner Reception hosted by Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO)
Venue: TBC

Complimentary half-day Tour  “Explore Chelela Pass” – lunch included

•    Departures
•    Self-paying post Tours