BANGKOK, November 9, 2026 — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), in collaboration with the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Federation (EATOF), will organise a Tourism Destination Resilience (TDR) Training Workshop in Gangwon State, Korea (ROK), on November 11, 2026, aimed at strengthening the capacity of local tourism officials and industry stakeholders to identify and manage risks, respond effectively to crises, and support the long-term sustainability of tourism destinations.
“Tourism destinations are increasingly required to navigate a complex and rapidly changing environment. Building resilience is not a one-time effort, but an ongoing process that requires preparedness, collaboration, and a shared commitment to the long-term well-being of destinations and their communities,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “Through this initiative, we are pleased to support Gangwon State in strengthening local capacity and helping ensure that its tourism sector is better equipped to adapt to challenges and sustain its development over the long term.”
Gangwon State is one of the Republic of Korea's leading tourism destinations, known for its mountainous national parks, coastal attractions, winter sports infrastructure, and cultural experiences. With the region building on the momentum of its 2025–2026 Visit Gangwon Year campaign, managing visitor growth while ensuring destination safety and sustainability remains an important priority. Seasonal forest fires, extreme winter weather, fluctuations in visitor demand, and periods of high visitor concentration all underscore the need for effective risk management and stronger coordination among local tourism stakeholders.
The training will address these challenges by introducing practical tools for identifying and assessing environmental, economic, and operational risks. Participants will also explore international approaches to crisis communication, emergency planning, and coordinated response, with an emphasis on applying these approaches to Gangwon State's specific circumstances and tourism landscape.
“PATA has long recognised the importance of tourism destination resilience and has worked with destinations across the Asia Pacific region to strengthen their preparedness and adaptive capacity. Through our Tourism Destination Resilience programme, which combines online learning resources with practical capacity-building initiatives, we have supported tourism stakeholders in developing the knowledge and tools needed to navigate uncertainty,” added Mr. Hamid. “We are pleased to bring this experience to Gangwon State and, together with EATOF and local partners, help strengthen the region's ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to future challenges.”
Lee Dong-hee, Secretary-General of EATOF, stated, “Through this workshop, we aim to strengthen cooperation between PATA and EATOF and work together to address the challenges that climate change poses to the tourism industry.”
The workshop will engage representatives from the Gangwon Tourism Foundation, municipal tourism authorities, and local tourism industry stakeholders, providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange to strengthen tourism resilience across the region.
Beyond this initiative, PATA continues to support its members and the wider tourism industry through practical training and professional development opportunities. Looking ahead to 2027, the Association will further strengthen its capacity-building activities, focusing on key areas such as tourism destination resilience, sustainability, marketing, and artificial intelligence (AI), in response to the evolving needs and priorities of the industry.
For more details on PATA offerings and to book a training, please visit https://www.pata.org/capacity-building-programme.
PATA, EATOF, and Gangwon State Join Forces to Strengthen Tourism Destination Resilience
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