show report PATA EXCHANGE PATA goes for growth
Sponsored by Tourism Australia and Reed Travel Exhibitions, the fourth PATA Exchange brought together destinations and products from across the region...
“This was the best PATA Exchange yet in terms of the quality of the meetings. Operators are trying
to get behind product and really push it at competitive prices” EMMA CASHMORE Dusit International
EVENT DETAILS WHO: SUPPLIERS AND AGENTS WHAT: TRADE FORUM WHERE: LONDON WHEN: MARCH 12 WHY: LEARN ABOUT PATA COUNTRIES HOW: ONE TO ONE MEETINGS
O
ver 40 suppliers and destination representatives attended this year’s PATA Exchange Asia Pacific,
including tourist boards from Papua New Guinea, Tourism New Zealand, Hong Kong Tourist Board, Samoa Tourism Authority, Tourism Malaysia and many more. Tourism Australia’s Glenn Davis said: “The
event was very busy with a good mix of sales and marketing people, agents and product managers. “Our key message is that it’s not all
doom and gloom out there! Australia is holding its own against competitor destinations and it’s important to realise Australia doesn’t have to be a once-in-a- lifetime trip – clients can do it in two-week chunks. It is perfectly possible to have a great trip in Australia packaged in shorter visits.”
AUSTRALIA The Aussie Specialist Programme has been updated by the addition of a new National Landscapes module. The
(Top left pic): l-r Glen Davis, Tourism Australia; Silvija Bradford, Tourism Australia; Suzanne Grinstead, Adur Travel Worldchoice (Far right pic): l-r Debbie Lewis, Air Pacifi c; Roger Paul, Global-link; Helen Kenning, Air Pacifi c
programme is backed by a range of incentives and offers the chance to win a place on a fam trip. Agents who suggest a friend or colleague via Tourism Australia’s e-letter will receive a £20 Love to Shop voucher if their recommendation becomes an Aussie Specialist.
TAIPEI Taipei is set to build business in the UK by capitalising on its recent ranking in Lonely Planet’s list of Top 10 Places to Visit in 2012. Svenja Grunow, marketing executive Taipei Tourism Office, said: “We are just beginning to build the UK market and consider it one of our most important. We are a niche destination with a growing range of opportunities. Our infrastructure has improved a lot so it is much easier now for visitors to get around and explore, even if they don’t speak Chinese. There are bike trails and better public transport too.”
PAPUA NEW GUINEA The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority is stepping up its presence in the UK following the opening of its first tourist office here. Accessed via Singapore to Port
Moresby, the capital, it is positioning itself as an adventure destination
with culture, nature, diving and trekking opportunities.
BANGKOK Andrew Hoskins, Bangkok Airways commented: “It’s a mixed picture for 2012. Some operators are very cautious, some are bullish while others are surprised by how well it is going. We have to work harder to get the business; people have money but it’s tougher to get them to part with it. We focus on providing service and good connections, and we are well placed to secure sales.”
HONG KONG Hong Kong reports a very positive start to 2012. The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s focus is on gastronomy and culture this year and also on ‘Green Hong Kong’. It wants to get across the message that HK isn’t just about the city, but has a lot of green spaces and great beaches too. The HKTB’s Manager Travel Trade Marketing, Sandra Kwan, said: “95 per cent of people going to HK are going en route to somewhere else.
We’re a good stopover; we are where East meets West so we are not
too great a culture shock! We want to work with the
other linked destinations to build business. The average stay duration in Hong Kong is now four nights.”
MACAU Jas Anand from the Macau Tourist Office said interest in the destination is rising. She said: “Hong Kong Airlines has new flights, and increased capacity will always help Macau. There is also a lot of product including the new road bridge being built linking HK and Macau.”
BURMA Natalie Lewis, Southeast Asia programme manager for Audley Travel, said there is strong demand for Burma. “The Far East is showing phenomenal signs of growth. Clients are saving up and then doing something really special. Burma is massive for us. We have been featuring it for 15 years; people know we are experts and now publicity around the destination is more positive
www.sellinglonghaul.com • April 2012 15
Did You Know?
In Hong Kong public transport journeys start from just 20 pence
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