PATA Travel Mart 2017 to be held in Macao

PATA Travel Mart 2017 (PTM 2017) will be held in Macao SAR from September 13-15. The 40th edition of the Mart will be hosted by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). PATA Travel Mart is the Association’s signature event and Asia Pacific’s premier travel trade show, featuring networking and contracting opportunities to help travel and tourism organisations access decision makers, meet new clients, expand networks and build or maintain existing relationships. In response to PATA Travel Mart being once again held in Macao, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes stated, "PATA Travel Mart mobilises a relevant contingent of travel trade stakeholders from the Asia Pacific region and around the world and we are enthusiastic with the perspective of providing a first-hand update about the significant developments in our city since we last met in Macao for the PATA Travel Mart 2010 and in 2005 for the PATA Annual Conference. “For decades, PATA has been a resourceful inspiration and a valuable platform for Macao's tourism industry development. It is a privilege for our city to host and contribute to the organisation of the 40th edition of the Association's premier annual travel trade show, following the successful organisation of two major PATA events. Macao is looking forward to once again play its role as a facilitator for this international tourism gathering as the city continues to pave the way to transform itself into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure,” added by MGTO Director. PATA CEO Mario Hardy said, “It is an exciting prospect to be returning to Macao SAR for the fortieth anniversary of PATA Travel Mart, having previously held a successful Mart there in 2010. PATA and the MGTO enjoy a very special, unique and rewarding relationship that we treasure and hold in high regard. “MGTO has been a valuable member of PATA since 1958 and has sponsored the PATA Gold Awards for the past 21 years. Next year’s PTM provides us with the perfect opportunity to showcase that amazing relationship and highlight one of the most unique destinations in the Asia Pacific region,” he continued. Over the weekend, PATA top leaders will be in Macao to attend Global Tourism Economy Forum•Macau 2016 (GTEF). PATA is one of the supporting units of GTEF, organised for the fifth year in Macao in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization. PATA Chairman Andrew Jones, will deliver a congratulatory message at the opening of the event, gathering tourism ministerial officials, global entrepreneurs and scholars from around the world to zero in on the theme 'The Growing Consumer Class - Rethinking and Reshaping the Future Tourism Landscape.' Together with Connecting Travel, PATA will also present one of the sessions of the programme of the Forum, titled 'Tourism and Technology - the Inseparable Duo' and moderated by PATA CEO, Mario Hardy. PTM 2016 in Indonesia attracted 1,358 delegates from 63 destinations for the three-day event, facilitating over 10,000 pre-matched appointments and bringing together qualified international buyers and sellers for face-to-face meetings, educational forums and networking functions. Founded in 1951, PATA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible development of the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry, providing insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 29 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 63 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. For more updates about PATA Travel Mart, please visit: https://www.pata.org/ This press release is available at: http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/pressroom/