Programme

Monday, Aug 17

0900-1800

Organiser Hall Move In / Raw Space Build Up
Venue: BCCK

0900-1700

1400-1700

Buyer / Seller / Media Delegate Registrations
Venue: BCCK

PATA Executive Board & Board Members Networking Reception & Life Members Get-Together (By invitation only)
Venue: Commons Café, Old Court House Kuching

1800-2000

Tuesday, Aug 18

Registration for PATA Board Meeting/ Media
Venue: Meeting Room Foyer, G/F Sheraton Kuching Hotel

0900-1800

Registration for PTM Knowledge Forum
Venue: Ballroom Foyer, 1/F, Sheraton Kuching Hotel

0830-1600

0830-1700

Buyer / Seller Delegate Registrations
Venue: BCCK

PTM Knowledge Forum 2026 - (by RSVP only) 
Venue: Grand Ballroom, 1/F, Sheraton Kuching Hotel

0900-1600

PATA Media Briefing
Venue: Venue:  Meeting Room 3, G/F, Sheraton Kuching Hotel

1100-1200

Executive Board Meeting (EB members only)
Venue: Meeting Room 1 & 2, G/F, Sheraton Kuching Hotel

1400-1530

Coffee Break
Venue: Ballroom Foyer, 1/F, Sheraton Kuching Hotel

1600-1615

1615-1800

PATA Board Meeting (By invitation only)
Venue: Meeting Room 1 & 2, G/F, Sheraton Kuching Hotel

PATA Gold Awards 2026 Gala Dinner sponsored by Macao Government Tourism Office
Venue: Pullman Kuching
Dress code: Lounge suit / Formal business attire / National or cultural outfit

1900-2100

Wednesday, Aug 19

0830-1700

Buyer / Seller / Media Delegate Registrations
Venue: BCCK

0900-0940

Seller-meet-Buyer Open Hall Session

0940-1230

PTM 2026 Business Session 1 (8 Appt.)

0940-0955

Appointment 1

1000-1015

Appointment 2

1020-1035

Appointment 3

1040-1055

Appointment 4

1055-1115

Coffee Break hosted by Sarawak Tourism Board

1115-1130

Appointment 5

1135-1150

Appointment 6

1155-1210

Appointment 7

1215-1230

Appointment 8

1000-1020

PTM 2026 Opening Ceremony

1020-1100

PTM 2026 VIP Tour

1100-1200

PATA Media Briefing

1230-1400

Delegate Lunch hosted by Tourism Malaysia

1400-1730

PTM 2026 Business Session 2 (10 Appt.)

1400-1415

Appointment 9

1420-1435

Appointment 10

1440-1455

Appointment 11

1500-1515

Appointment 12

1515-1535

Coffee Break hosted by Sarawak Tourism Board

1535-1550

Appointment 13

1555-1610

Appointment 14

1615-1630

Appointment 15

1635-1650

Appointment 16

1655-1710

Appointment 17

1715-1730

Appointment 18

Soul of Borneo Gala Evening hosted by Ministry of Tourism Creative Industry & Performing Arts
Venue: VOCO Kuching by IHG

1900-2100

Thursday, Aug 20

0930-1700

Trade Visitors Walk Around
Venue: BCCK

0900-0940

Open Hall Session

0940-1230

PTM 2026 Business Session 1 (8 Appt.)

0940-0955

Appointment 19

1000-1015

Appointment 20

1020-1035

Appointment 21

1040-1055

Appointment 22

1055-1115

Coffee Break hosted by Sarawak Tourism Board

1115-1130

Appointment 23

1135-1150

Appointment 24

1155-1210

Appointment 25

1215-1230

Appointment 26

1230-1400

Delegate Lunch hosted by Hemisphere Corporation Sdn Bhd

1400-1710

PTM 2026 Business Session 4 (9 Appt.)

1400-1415

Appointment 27

1420-1435

Appointment 28

1440-1455

Appointment 29

1500-1515

Appointment 30

1515-1535

Coffee Break hosted by Sarawak Tourism Board

1535-1550

Appointment 31

1555-1610

Appointment 32

1615-1630

Appointment 33

1635-1650

Appointment 34

1655-1710

Appointment 35

Evening

At Leisure

Friday, Aug 21

Destination Experiences hosted by Sarawak Tourism Board
Detailed timing and information coming soon.

0800-1200

All Day

Delegate Departure / Self-paying Tour

PTM Knowledge Forum

“The Next Era: Impactful Partnerships, Purposeful Growth”

Tuesday, Aug 18 @ Grand Ballroom, 1F, Sheraton Hotel

0900-0915

Opening Ceremony
Welcome Remarks by representatives from PATA, the Government of Sarawak, and host partners.

Tourism, Partnerships & Purposeful Growth

An in-conversation session exploring Sarawak’s tourism vision, regional collaboration opportunities, cultural identity, sustainability ambitions, and the future of tourism growth in Asia Pacific.

0915-0945

Keynote: The Next Era of Tourism in Asia Pacific

A high-level keynote exploring how destinations and businesses can achieve meaningful tourism growth through collaboration, innovation, resilience, and evolving market opportunities across Asia Pacific.

0945-1005

1005-1045

Purposeful Growth in an Age of Change

Tourism leaders discuss how destinations and businesses can remain competitive while balancing commercial growth, sustainability expectations, changing traveller behaviour, and geopolitical uncertainty.

Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor
CEO, Sarawak Tourism Board

1045-1100

Coffee Break & Networking

From Vision to Reality: Sustainable Tourism in Action

A series of practical case studies exploring how destinations and tourism stakeholders across Asia Pacific are implementing sustainability strategies, community development initiatives, cultural preservation efforts, and partnership-driven tourism models.

The session will highlight real-world examples of tourism development that balance economic growth, inclusivity, visitor experience, and long-term destination stewardship.

1100-1135

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes
Director, Macao Government Tourism Office

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot
Director-General, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA)

Travel Outlook 2027-2029: Markets, Consumers & Emerging Industry Trends

A fast-paced series of presentations examining the trends, traveller behaviours, and market shifts expected to shape tourism and travel trade strategies over the next three to five years.

1135-1210

Japan Outbound Tourism Snapshot 2027

A focused presentation examining the outlook, behaviour, and recovery trajectory of Japan outbound travel and implications for destinations and tourism businesses across Asia Pacific.

1210-1220

Dr. Temesgen Assefa
Chief Consultant, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co.

1220-1330

Networking Lunch

Launch of the PATA & CWP Digital Series: Pacific Asia: Tourism with Purpose

Official launch and preview of the new PATA-CWP digital series, featuring a discussion on the role of storytelling, media, and tourism in promoting purposeful growth across Asia Pacific.

1330-1400

Building Impactful Partnerships Across Borders

Exploring how tourism boards, airlines, convention bureaux, hospitality groups, and travel businesses can collaborate to unlock new visitor markets, strengthen regional connectivity, and create new commercial opportunities.

1400-1445

Dmitry Smolnikov
Deputy CEO, Center for Strategic Research (CSR), Discover Russia

Dileep Mudadeniya
Senior Vice President, Global Alliances & Partnerships and Head of Corporate Affairs, John Keells Holdings PLC

AI, Digital Commerce, Sales & the Future Traveller

Exploring how AI, digital platforms, data, and smart destination strategies are reshaping marketing, visitor engagement, travel distribution, and business models across tourism.

1445-1520

Bharat Nagpal
Senior Director, Sojern

Yang Li
Head of Public Affairs, APAC, Booking.com

Communities, Culture & Meaningful Tourism Experiences

How destinations can preserve authenticity while delivering economic opportunities for local communities through culture, heritage, Indigenous tourism, and creative industries.

1520-1550

Moderator:

Andrew Jones
Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts

Somsak Boonkam
Founder and CEO, Local Alike Co. Ltd.

Panellists:

Jessica Yew
Director, Sticky Rice Travel

MOU Signing Ceremony

Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Top25 and the Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF)

Format: 5-minute signing and photo opportunity

1550-1555

1555-1600

Closing Remarks

1600-1615

Coffee Break

PTM 2026 is proudly

Endorsed by

Supported by

Delegate Lunch Sponsors

Hosted by

Lanyard Sponsor

Event Tech Partners

Premier Media Partner

Official Publication of PTM Daily

Supporting Media Partners

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