Pata identifies threats to travel industry

MACAU SAR, CHINA (PRC), April 19, 2005 – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)’s Strategic Intelligence Centre outlined the many potential threats facing the travel and tourism industry in Asia Pacific during a session of the 54th PATA Annual Conference, April 19.
Issues such as bird flu, terrorism, environmental degradation and the ability of infrastructure to handle one of the world’s fastest growing industries were only some of the issues identified in PATA’s Total Tourism Survey. More than 250 respondents to the ongoing survey identified bird flu as a greater potential threat than SARS. Respondents were worried about future terrorist activity, with the majority saying that governments should pay for security.
The survey investigates all the modern issues directly or indirectly facing the travel industry, among them: peace negotiations, terrorism, European Union expansion, a common Asian currency, bird flu, global warming, ageing populations, tourism as cultural protector or destroyer, the mass media's coverage of crises, the impact of travel advisories, distribution technology, aviation, human resource challenges, domestic and regional tourism growth and whether the industry is ready to handle a large volume of traffic from India and China (PRC).
PATA will announce the full results of the survey later this year.
Travel industry workers can fill out the survey by visiting www.PATA.org/ttsurvey.
Until April 21, journalists interested in the PATA Total Tourism Survey initial results can call (853) 6131037, or e-mail: communications@PATA.org.
ABOUT PATA Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is the recognised authority on Asia Pacific travel and tourism. PATA provides leadership and advocacy to the collective efforts of nearly 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, more than 55 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies. In addition, thousands of travel professionals belong to dozens of PATA chapters worldwide.
PATA's mission is to enhance the growth, value and quality of Asia Pacific travel and tourism for the benefit of its membership. PATA is a not-for-profit organisation.
Find out more about PATA at www.PATA.org.