Obama Boosts Travel and Tourism, PATA Salutes Initiative and ASEAN Activism

Posted: Fri 20 Jan, 2012

January 20, 2012, Bangkok: The ability of travel to boost economic activity and create employment has in the past week been recognised by political leaders on both sides of the Pacific.

On Thursday January 19 in Washington, USA, President Obama announced a national strategy to boost travel in the United States, an industry that currently supports 14 million jobs but has lost significant global market share of international travellers (17% to 11% 2010 to 2000), click here to see more for the White House Statement.

Last week at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Manado, Indonesia, ASEAN Ministers at their annual tourism forum pressed ahead with co-operative plans to deliver “responsible sustainable tourism”.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Republic of Indonesia Mari Elka Pangestu, the host of this 1,200 public and private sector gathering echoed Obama’s Executive Order, by calling for the obstacles to travel and tourism growth to be removed a common ASEAN visa is the goal more creative economy jobs will be the result.

Mr Martin J Craigs, PATA CEO applauded both initiatives: “This is a sign of the times political leaders from both sides of the Pacific recognising the vital economic and social benefits of our members’ efforts.”

-ENDS-

Issued by:

PATA Communications,
Bangkok, Thailand.
Tel: +66 2 658 2000
E-mail: communications@PATA.org
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About PATA

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism within the Asia Pacific region. This year, PATA is proud to celebrate 60 dynamic years of developing responsible tourism.

In partnership with private and public sector members, PATA enhances the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within, the region.

The Association provides leadership and counsel on an individual and collective basis to over 80 government, state and city tourism bodies; nearly 50 international airlines, airports and cruise lines and many hundreds of travel industry companies across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

Thousands of travel professionals belong to 41 active PATA chapters worldwide and participate in a wide range of PATA and industry events. PATA’s Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) offers unrivalled aggregated data and insights. This included Asia Pacific inbound and outbound statistics, analyses and forecasts and in-depth reports on strategic analysis. For more information, please visit www.PATA.org