There’s an impressive line-up of buyers and sellers attending PATA Travel Mart 2009 in Hangzhou China (PRC). The travel and tourism industry is recognising the value of participating in the region’s premier contracting and business networking event with the numbers of buyers now registered for PTM up by an impressive 70 per-cent compared to the same period in 2008.

We are also very impressed with the quality of our sellers for PTM 2009 with over 50 percent of available floor space now booked, says PATA Events Director Sheila Leong. It’s clear that we’ve made the right decision in staging this year’s Mart in Hangzhou. We’re enjoying fantastic support from our hosts in this beautiful city and we are also very fortunate to have the backing of the China National Tourism Administration.

CNTA Chairman Shao Qiwei (pictured above) has affirmed his commitment to strengthening collaborative ties with PATA to facilitate prosperous tourism development in the region. The CNTA has also called upon all 31 provinces across the PRC to take part in this year’s PATA Travel Mart.

Click here to view further information on PATA Travel Mart.

PATA Webinar Prof Turner Top forecasters to share tourism industry updates for 2009 10.00hrs Bangkok time (11.00hrs Hong Kong SAR; 13.00hrs Sydney)   Have you spotted any green shoots of recovery across the region’s travel and tourism sectors? Top industry forecasters Lindsay Turner and Stephen Witt join PATA SIC Director John Koldowski in a special PATA webinar next Thursday July 9th at 10.00hrs Bangkok time to share their expert opinions on how destinations across the region are likely to shape up in the second half of 2009. Their forecasts are based upon new economic reports from the World Bank, OECD and other sources as well as the very latest international arrivals data for 2009 analysed by PATA’s Strategic Intelligence Centre.   Professor Lindsay Turner and Professor Stephen Witt are co-authors of the authoritative PATA Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts – now available in print and on cd-rom.

	Prof Witt

Professor Turner, from the School of Economics and Finance at Victoria University in Melbourne Australia, is a leading worldwide authority on tourism forecasting and economics. His major research interests include the econometric modelling of international tourism demand, risk management strategies in international trade and cross-cultural models in tourism. Professor Witt, from Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University is also internationally recognised as an expert in the econometric modelling of international tourism demand and tourism forecasting. His major research interest is the assessment of the accuracy of different forecasting methods within a range of tourism contexts.

See https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/616598547 for registration details.

The Director-General of WHO has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6 ‘on the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence’. The WHO states that the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met’. However, the WHO continues to recommend ‘no restrictions on travel and no border closures’. As at 9.00hrs GMT Wednesday July 1st the WHO states 77,201 cases of the influenza A (H1N1) infection have been reported with 332 deaths.

Click here to view full statement.

Latest News   From the CEO Click here for Greg Duffell's ‘100 day Report Card'.   Latest News@PATA Newsletter Subscribe   Latest What's New in Asia Pacific Subscribe   PATA TV   What the Papers Say   Medical Tourism Webinar Download the presentation (PPT 3 MB) by Ruben Toral from IMTA.   Latest Press Releases PATA boost for region's medical tourism (June 5, 2009) News Roundup (May 21, 2009)

Upcoming Events   PATA Travel Mart 2009: a showcase of the best Asia Pacific travel products; Hangzhou, China, September 22-25; PATA.org/mart   PATA Board of Directors Meeting: Hangzhou, China, September 22-25, 2009.   Tourism Investment for the Development of Enterprise and Sustainability (TIDES): Samoa, November 25-27, 2009.   Join PATA   Who's already a member? Be a travel industry leader   PATA Foundation

Latest Intelligence   It’s here. The PATA Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts 2009-2011 is now available in both hardback and on CD-Rom. This annual publication, written and edited by distinguished academics Lindsay Turner and Stephen Witt, is regarded as the definitive reference for business planners, marketers and analysts. Prices at just US$750 for PATA members, and US$1,500 for non-members, the book contains authoritative and unrivalled forecasts on visitor arrivals numbers up to 2011 for 41 Asia Pacific destinations…..plus much, much more. You may order on-line at www.PATA.org/catalogue.   The 'Asia Pacific Travel Intentions Survey', published jointly by PATA and Visa, provides a detailed look at the desires and concerns of potential travellers to the region ... More   Quick Links   About PATA Contact PATA PATA Foundation 2009 PATA Gold Awards 2009 PATA Chapter Awards 'PATA Compass' Magazine

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