Call for Entries: PATA Gold Awards 2026 Returns to Spotlight Tourism Excellence
BANGKOK, February 25, 2026 - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) invites tourism professionals and organisations to participate in the PATA Gold Awards 2026, an award programme focusing on celebrating exceptional achievements across various sectors within the Asia Pacific travel industry.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said, “With more than four decades of history, the PATA Gold Awards have earned a strong reputation as a trusted mark of tourism excellence in the Asia Pacific region. As PATA celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, the Awards continue to reflect our long-standing commitment to quality, integrity, and meaningful industry recognition. What sets the programme apart is its thorough and independent judging process, which recognises work that delivers real impact, strong ideas, and measurable results. Each year, we are impressed by the level of innovation and dedication shown across our tourism community.”
He added, “We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) for its tireless support. It is a joy to continue this long-standing collaboration with one of our most valued partners.”
Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, MGTO, said, “The PATA Gold Awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the beauty of the tourism industry and showcase some of its most innovative solutions with the world. With tourism at the heart of Macao’s economy and continuing to lead the way in building a future focused on greater diversification and opportunities, we are honoured to join PATA in providing this platform for all to take advantage of and come together to create a vibrant and sustainable industry.”
Entering its 42nd edition in 2026, the PATA Gold Awards remains one of the region’s most rigorous, merit-based award programmes, having honoured hundreds of outstanding achievements, innovations, and best practices across Asia Pacific tourism. The programme features two major categories - Marketing and Sustainability and Social Responsibility - reflecting two of the most influential and wide-ranging areas of the tourism industry.
This year’s winners will be officially announced at the awards ceremony and gala dinner held in conjunction with PATA Travel Mart 2026 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, on August 19, 2026.
What is new this year?
Three new award titles have been introduced, expanding the PATA Gold Awards to a total of 27 specialised categories. This expansion ensures the awards are best aligned with the evolving priorities and emerging focus areas of the tourism industry.
Benefits of participating in the PATA Gold Awards 2026 include:
Exposure to an elite panel of international experts and PATA’s global network spanning across the public and private travel sectors.
International media coverage through PATA’s comprehensive promotional platforms.
Feature placement in the PATA Gold Awards 2026 Winners’ Showcase e-booklet and video.
Complimentary access to PATA Travel Mart 2026.
Industry organisations and professionals are encouraged to submit their entries between March 1 and May 15, 2026, 11:59 PM (Bangkok time), with a 50 per cent early-bird discount available for submissions made from March 1 - 31, 2026.
For full details on the categories and entry submission instructions, download the detailed brochure and submission guidelines.
For further inquiries, visit www.pata.org/pata-gold-awards-2026 or contact Goldawards@pata.org.
