Macau wins bid to host PATA Travel Mart for the first time

The Board of Directors of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced that Macau has been chosen as the host city for PATA Travel Mart 2010. One thousand and five hundred participants are expected to take part in the event. MGTO Director João Manuel Costa Antunes and Deputy Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes were present at PATA’s Board of Directors Meeting held in India. Following the announcement, Antunes expressed, “We are very happy to be the host for PATA Travel Mart 2010 and we are grateful for the support of the Board of Directors of PATA. We will make every effort to ensure this premier travel trade show for Asia Pacific will be a successful one.” “The Macau SAR Government is committed to develop an integrated tourism model to gradually achieve diversification of the tourism industry that would appeal to visitors of different interests from around the world. Macau successfully hosted the 54th PATA Annual Conference in 2005 and the wide accolades we received from the industry proved that Macau has the capability to organize large-scale international conferences. Winning the bid to host PATA Travel Mart for the first time will further showcase our strengths as a host city for international exhibitions and conventions.” PATA Travel Mart is one of the widely recognized travel trade shows for Asia Pacific with a long history. It serves as a travel contracting and networking platform that attracts many high-profile buyers and exhibitors every year. Founded in 1951, PATA is recognized as a leading tourism organization in the Asia Pacific Region. PATA’s membership boasts about 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, more than 70 airlines and cruise lines, and hundreds of travel industry companies. In addition, thousands of travel industry professionals belong to PATA Chapters worldwide. The mission of PATA is to enhance the growth, value and quality of Pacific Asia travel and tourism for the benefit of the membership of PATA. As a non-profit travel industry association, PATA provides a platform for its members to share information and insights for the tourism industry. MGTO has been a member of PATA since 1966 and the PATA Macau Chapter was set up in 1983. Held in Hyderabad of India last week, PATA Travel Mart 2008 attracted over 1,000 trade delegates, comprising 374 global buyers, 715 Asia Pacific sellers and a host of international media. Mainland China sent a strong delegation of 80 buyers and sellers to the Mart as she paves way for the next PATA Travel Mart to be held in Hangzhou in 2009. First-time participants at the Mart were impressed by the professionally fixed appointments and the personalized style of the Mart.