Korea Tourism Organization’s Rising Star, Yeji Cho, Named PATA Face of the Future 2025
Three Emerging Tourism Leaders Also Recognised for Excellence in Sustainability, Strategy, and Leadership
BANGKOK, August 5, 2025– The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), has announced Yeji Cho, Assistant Manager / International Cooperation Team, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), as the Grand Winner of the 2025 PATA Face of the Future Award. In addition, three outstanding young professionals have been recognised for their achievements: Poornaka Delpachitra, Country General Manager/Director - Sri Lanka, Intrepid Travel, for Sustainability Initiatives; Dr. Bella Vongvisitsin, Assistant Professor for Hospitality & Tourism Management Programme, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, for Strategic Management; and Nikhil Jeet, Director, DDP Group, for Leadership.
Since 2002, more than 20 exceptional young professionals across the Asia Pacific region have received the PATA Face of the Future title for their leadership, innovation, and dedication to sustainable tourism development - principles aligned with PATA’s mission to promote responsible and inclusive growth in the travel and tourism industry. This award is the Association’s most prestigious honour for rising leaders in the sector.
“I sincerely congratulate Ms Yeji Cho on this well-deserved recognition. It reflects her dedication, skills, and achievements, qualities that will undoubtedly inspire other young professionals in our industry,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “Her contribution exemplifies the potential of the next generation of tourism leaders in the Asia Pacific, and the innovative, determined, and resilient spirit they bring to shaping a new era for our sector.”
“My commendations also extend to the other three recognised youths, all the nominees, and every young person working hard for our industry. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. You are the key to our future and the ones who will define it,” he added.
Ben Montgomery, 2025 PATA Face of the Future head judge and PATA Executive Board Member, commented, “I truly believe the future of our industry rests in the hands of passionate, curious, and courageous young leaders. It brings me immense joy to see new talent stepping up with fresh ideas and bold aspirations.
As industry professionals, we have a vital role in guiding, supporting, and creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation to thrive. Supporting initiatives like PATA Face of the Future allows us to celebrate these rising stars and inspire even more youth to take part in shaping the future of tourism.”
She concluded, “To all young professionals - embrace every opportunity, stay curious, and lead with heart. The journey ahead is full of potential, and we’re here to champion you every step of the way.”
Yeji Cho said, “Receiving this award is a meaningful milestone in my journey through tourism. At the Korea Tourism Organization, I have worked to promote the value of humanity through tourism, supporting disadvantaged tourists and building networks of international cooperation. It is incredibly encouraging that PATA recognises the importance of these efforts and gives a voice to young professionals in the tourism industry. I hope this award might inspire other young people to believe in their ability to create global impact. By sharing our stories and experiences, I believe we can shape a more inclusive and meaningful future through tourism.”
An awardee of KTO’s Employee of the Year, Ms Cho has played a key role in strengthening relationships between KTO and leading organisations, including UN Tourism, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, ASEAN+3, and PATA.
Her contributions to PATA have been particularly impactful. She has been instrumental in expanding the PATA–KTO Internship Programme, including recruiting and dispatching interns from Korea to the PATA Secretariat, supporting the development of the programme’s alumni network, and helping young tourism professionals advance their careers. She also played a pivotal role in securing Gyeongsangbuk-do Province as the host destination for the PATA Annual Summit 2026, and has supported KTO’s active participation in the PATA Gold Awards.
From 2021 to 2023, Ms Cho led KTO’s Accessible Tourism Project, spearheading the development of infrastructure and educational programmes to enhance travel experiences for tourists with disabilities. Her efforts aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and earned KTO the PATA Gold Award 2022 in the Tourism for All category.
As the 2025 PATA Face of the Future, Ms Cho has been invited to join the PATA Board, representing the youth community of the Association. She has also received full sponsorship to attend PATA Travel Mart 2025 (PTM 2025) and will be featured as a panellist at the PATA Knowledge Forum 2025, speaking on the topic: “Voices of the Future: Next-Gen Perspectives on Tourism’s Evolving Workforce.”
Three Emerging Leaders
In addition to the main award, three individuals were recognised for their significant contributions in key focus areas:
Poornaka Delpachitra, Country General Manager/Director - Sri Lanka, Intrepid Travel, was recognised as the PATA Face of the Future in Sustainability Initiatives.
Mr Delpachitra oversees Intrepid’s Shared Service Center and Destination Management Company in Sri Lanka—one of the company’s largest global operations—and serves on its Global Leadership Team. Under his guidance, Intrepid Sri Lanka achieved strong post-crisis recovery and earned national recognition. His work champions climate-conscious, community-focused, and inclusive tourism practices.
Dr. Bella Vongvisitsin, Assistant Professor for Hospitality & Tourism Management Programme, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, was recognised as the PATA Face of the Future in Strategic Management.
Dr Vongvisitsin specialises in community-based tourism, destination management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Her work spans policy development, grassroots initiatives, and collaboration with major tourism bodies across Thailand and the Asia Pacific region. She is the founder of Inclusive Tourism Asia, a social venture supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, and is a vocal advocate for gender equality and inclusive tourism on international platforms.
Nikhil Jeet, Director, DDP Group, was recognised as the PATA Face of the Future in Leadership.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Jeet launched COVID eLearn, a platform that trained and certified over 2,000 travel agents across India. He also pioneered India’s first digital travel conclaves. Under his leadership, these initiatives evolved into sustainable digital ecosystems that continue to support industry development. He mentors young professionals and collaborates with underrepresented communities to foster inclusivity in the travel sector.
For more information, please visit: www.pata.org/pata-face-of-the-future or contact: Nick Chun, Manager - Membership & Youth Programme at PATA, at fof@pata.org.
Distinguished Panel of Judges
Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts; Chairperson, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Thailand Chapter; Vice President, ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHRA); Vice President, Thai Hotels Association (THA); Executive Board Member, PATA
Jane Park, Assistant Manager – F&B Revenue Management & Operations, Hotel ICON; and 2024 PATA Face of the Future.
Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC, Booking.com
Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA
Paul Pruangkarn, Director - Marketing & Communications, PATA
