The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the PATA China Advisory Board at the first China Responsible Tourism Forum, organised by PATA, in co-operation with the Organising Committee of the China International Heritage Towns Exposition.
 
The PATA China Board will be made up of the chairs and vice-chairs of PATA chapters in mainland China, and will act as an advisory council to the PATA China Office, which was established in 2008.

While the role of the PATA China office is to foster public and private partnerships, and develop intra-governmental relations, the PATA Board and the PATA China chapters will have the mandate of building a community of travel and tourism professionals in China.

The PATA China office will leverage the inner chapter network of over 40 PATA chapters worldwide to share knowledge and best practices.

PATA China will also network with industry peers to streamline collaboration between Chinese and expat members of the Chinese travel industry.

The goal is to educate the industry on changing trends in the travel and tourism industry in China, and to assist in business growth for companies and tourism professionals domestically and internationally.

“The importance of building a bridge between Chinese travel and tourism professionals and expats working in China is vitally important,” said Martin Craigs, chief executive of PATA.

“The new PATA China Board and Chapter structure across mainland China, and the PATA Greater China office based in Beijing is a substantial institutional foundation that will help the next generation of PATA members build their business.”

The first chapter that has been launched, the PATA Beijing-China Chapter, consists of PATA members working in diverse segments of the industry.

These include aviation, hospitality, tourism, media, academia, and government. Other chapters across China are being formed and will include the formation of student chapters.

Activities of the chapters will include seminars, network luncheons with guest speakers, and industry conferences, the first being the China Responsible Tourism Forum, which was held on December 16th, 2011.