Pacific Asia Association (PATA) Annual Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in April, 2012. IFT delegation led by President Dr. Fanny Vong announced the establishment of PATA Macau Student Chapter during the conference. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA's private and public sector members, it enhances the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region. In 2011, IFT, with the support of local industry partners, was elected as Chairman of the PATA Macau, committed to facilitate exchanges of ideas, forge corporation among members and build a better future for our region. IFT, being a higher education institution, quests to encourage the involvement of undergraduates and young tourism professionals to the future tourism development. During the inauguration ceremony, Chairlady of PATA Macau Student Chapter Ariel Lin, year 3 student of IFT's bachelor degree programme in Tourism Business Management, spoke on behalf of the Chapter stressing how Macao students, as a new generation and energy to the tourism industry learn from and contribute to the PATA as well as the tourism industry as a whole. The PATA Macau Student Chapter with students of IFT, University of Macao and Macao University of Science and Technology as core members while students of Macao Polytechnic Institute are also heavily involved. The aims of the chapter are:
- To provide forum for student chapter members to contribute to and share about tourism knowledge and trends with all interested parties and potential young professionals;
- To assemble student representatives of PATA at regular intervals to facilitate member integrity and closer working relationship to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of the student chapter's management;
- To implement specific PATA and PATA Macau Chapter events and projects in compliance with the goals and objectives of PATA; - To obtain opinions of student chapter members on any PATA and the PATA Macau Chapter initiatives. IFT looks forward to the establishment of Student Chapter in strengthening the link of student cooperation among local higher institutions, encouraging youngster to speak out their creative opinion and nurturing future tourism professionals.
