PATA Foundation

To Teach. To Build. To Care.

Investing in the sustainable and equitable growth of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific through human capital development.

The PATA Foundation is empowering Asia Pacific's most vulnerable youth through education and skills training for a thriving and sustainable career in tourism and hospitality.

About

Experience and expertise to deliver.

Since 1984, the PATA Foundation, a registered charity in the United States with 501(c)(3) status, has donated over USD1.3 million in 38 destinations.

Vision

A sustainable and prosperous Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry that actively contributes to the economic and social advancement of all people.

Mission

To advance travel and tourism development throughout the Asia Pacific region in support of vulnerable and underprivileged communities by:

  • Supporting education, skills development and capacity building projects;

  • Supporting economic, social and environmental initiatives which help foster the sustainable and equitable growth of the travel and tourism industry.

Impact

132 community projects, 40+ communities, 144 scholarships.

We're working to ensure that young people have the employability skills needed to build sustainable and thriving careers in tourism and hospitality. There are 700 million youth in the region, but 50% are unemployed. Poverty and lack of education act as barriers for taking advantage of economic opportunities. Even when youth are able to gain the technical skills needed for employment, their success is greatly limited if they don't also possess the life skills needed to live independently and navigate new careers.

Education

Until 2019, our work in education focused on improving the professionalism of travel industry personnel and of others working in related fields. The education of visitors, host communities and travel industry staff in respect to the environment and cultural heritage is also included.

Our Education Fund provided grants to Technical and Vocational Educational Training partners throughout the region - including our partner for our signature project pilot, Sala Bai in Siem Riep.

The fund also provided educational scholarships, enabling vulnerable youth to access training and education.

Cultural Heritage

Our work in Cultural Heritage has focused on the conservation of sites which are destinations which support the local tourism industry, including historical buildings, cultural attractions, historical towns and villages.

Through our Cultural and Heritage Conservation Fund we have also worked with communities to invest in cultural heritage activities which support the growth of local tourism and provide employment opportunities within communities.

Sustainable Tourism

We have actively supported efforts within local travel and tourism industries focussed on making as low an impact on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people.

Through our Sustainable Tourism grants, we have invested in community efforts to manage tourist sites for sustainable growth and supported education and training on environmental sustainability.

PATA Foundation Project: CBT Vietnam

The PATA Foundation supported a long-running community-based tourism (CBT) initiative in the Sapa region of Northern Vietnam, delivered in partnership with Capilano University in Canada and Hanoi Open University in Vietnam.

Through hands-on training in tourism, entrepreneurship, homestay development, and environmental stewardship, the project empowered ethnic minority communities—including the Hmong, Red Dao, and Giay—to sustainably manage tourism and retain its economic benefits. Families participating in the programme saw significant income growth, while cultural preservation and responsible tourism practices strengthened community resilience. This collaborative effort remains a powerful example of how education and capacity building can transform local livelihoods.

Engage

Opportunities for Engagement

The PATA Foundation is committed to advancing travel and tourism development throughout the Asia Pacific region in support of vulnerable and underprivileged communities through vocational education, skills development and capacity building projects. Your engagement with the PATA Foundation is an investment in the future of Asia Pacific..

Support a Project Through Your PATA Chapter

We are always looking to connect with PATA membership. Contact us to learn more about how your Chapter can engage in fundraising and supporting a PATA project partner of your choosing. We can support you in developing an event or engagement opportunity that works for your group.

Become a Corporate Partner

Our corporate partners create impact through investing in projects on the ground in the countries most relevant to their businesses. We aim to develop partnerships based on mutuality and shared goals which advance the employability of youth along with the CSR goals of corporates.

Donate

You can make a donation today and help a student gain the employability skills they need to succeed in gaining employment and thriving in their new career!

Trustees

Chair

Andrew Jones FIH. CHA.
Guardian - Sanctuary Resorts

  • Over the past 50 plus years, Andrew Jones has worked in numerous senior management and corporate positions for prestigious hotels, resorts and management companies in London, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong and across Asia.

    In 1996, Andrew embarked on a new journey. He founded and became the Guardian of Sanctuary Resorts, a resort management company creating responsible and sustainable tourism experiences where people balance their body, mind and spirit in an environmentally friendly space, while using the resort as a catalyst for community development.

    As part of his service to Industry, Andrew is a Past Chairman, and Executive Board member, and current Life Member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a previous Vice Chairman, and Trustee, for the PATA Foundation, and previous Advisor to PATA on CSR and Responsible and Sustainable Tourism. In addition, Andrew was a member of the Board of the Indian Ocean Tourism Organization, Director, Asia Pacific Affairs for the International Hotel and Restaurant Association, and a member of the World Travel Market (WTM) World Responsible Tourism Day Advisory Panel.

    Andrew is a Certified Hotel Administrator of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, and a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.

    Andrew is a leading proponent of Corporate Social Responsibility and Wellness in Tourism, and is a knowledgeable Keynote Speaker, Moderator and Panellist on matters of Responsible and Sustainable Tourism, and Crisis Management at many Hotel, Environment and Social Enterprise Forums and Conferences as well as at Universities and Vocational Schools.

    In addition, Andrew has been a member of several advisory boards to academic institutions, and is currently a Member of the Advisory Peer Group (APG), Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), and mentors several students at both HKMU and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (SHTM), at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

    Andrew believes in directly contributing to the community in which he lives and is Chairman Emeritus of the KELY (Kid’s Everywhere Like You) Support Group (www.kely.org), a Happiness Ambassador for Planet Happiness, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Kowloon, and a supporter of numerous other Charitable organizations and Social Ventures in Hong Kong.

Vice Chair

Simon Lloyd
Hospitality Management and Business Administration, Dusit Thani College

  • As Dean of Hospitality Management, Simon’s focus is the redevelopment, internationalization and growth of the BBA in Hospitality Management, certified by the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne and the BBA in Hotel Management, along with teaching Leadership and Strategic Management.

    Before joining Dusit Thani College, Simon served as Dean of Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism at Botho University in Botswana, where he launched their Hospitality Management programs, teaching Food and Beverage Management, as well as Kempinski Hotels, covering Operations Management, Strategic Planning and Talent Development in China and Europe.

    Simon holds an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business in South Africa, focusing on tourism training in rural communities in Botswana, as well as a BSc in International Hospitality Management from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland, with a specialization in Finance.

    In addition to his role with Dusit Thani College, Simon is a member of THE-ICE and PATA Boards and the Mekong Tourism Advisory Groups, as well as an avid supporter and advocate of community-based tourism and sustainable tourism activities.

    Having grown up and worked in Southern Africa and worked across Europe, Africa and Asia, Simon has an appreciation of a variety of cultures, which he tries to incorporate into all aspects of his life. He believes that, especially in the world of education, training, and talent development, there are no correct solutions but that any solution needs to start with the individual.

Members

Sarah Mathews
CEO, e-Tourism Frontiers

  • Sarah Mathews, affectionately known as the “Insight-Cyclopaedia” is a seasoned veteran in the digital marketing industry with over 30 years of influential experience. Her portfolio sparkles with collaborations with global leaders such as Tesla, Coca-Cola, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.

    A significant part of her career was her decade-long tenure at Tripadvisor, where Sarah refined her skills in big data analysis, using it as a tool to craft strategic business and marketing strategies that shaped the Asia Pacific region. This period also saw Sarah immerse herself in the world of travel- related digital marketing, becoming an invaluable asset to various tourism boards and a steadfast supporter of SMEs across the region. Her deep understanding of the travel industry’s unique demands and trends helped these organisations enhance their online presence and effectively engage their target audiences.

    Her innovative spirit led to the creation of the Destination Academy, an intensive three-day boot camp that has elevated the digital marketing skills of countless global tourism organisations.

Hiran Cooray
Chairman, Jetwing Symphony/Lighthouse Hotel PLC.

  • Mr. Cooray is Chairman of Jetwing Symphony/Lighthouse Hotel PLC.

    He joined his father, the founder of Jetwing, late Herbert Cooray, in the late 1980s. He learnt to love nature, work with local communities and to explore areas where others would not from his father; today, this is called sustainable tourism. He has seen the Jetwing brand being recognized as Sri Lanka’s most responsible hospitality entity.

    His efforts were acknowledged internationally with him being the first Sri Lankan to be appointed Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) based in Bangkok. He also served on the Board of Small Luxury Hotels of the World from 2007- 2014 and the UNWTO Tourism Ethics Committee as an alternate member from 2013-2021.

    In Sri Lanka, he was elected President of the Tourist Hotels Association (THASL) from 2005-2008 and from 2014-2016. He also served as a Board member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB). His passion for sustainable tourism makes him a sought-after speaker within his motherland and around the world.

Stephen Pearce
Partner, Tourism and Leisure, Gaining Edge

For those struggling to lift themselves out of poverty, tourism and hospitality still offer a realistic path.

Get engaged today and help make an impact for vulnerable youth. You can make an investment in the future of a student. You can engage with a financial investment, in-kind services or skills, or collaborate with us through a corporate partnership.

Connect with us to find out how we can create thriving livelihoods in a growing industry: Foundation@PATA.org