The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has offered its resources and support to a new tourism recovery initiative collectively launched by China, Japan and Korea (ROK).

The three countries agreed earlier this month to jointly develop a crisis management manual to combat future crises.

They also agreed to work with the private sectors in all three countries to help Japan’s tourism industry recover from the March 11th tsunami.

“Golden tour routes” linking the three nations will also be developed as a result of the meeting.

PATA’s interim chief executive Bill Calderwood pledged the support of PATA’s own newly initiated Rapid Recovery Task Force.

PATA will also make available assorted crisis management and communications guidelines developed by PATA for the travel industry over the last eight years.

Calderwood said that PATA was ready to help the three countries with the speedy dissemination of accurate information, rapid implementation of standard operating procedures, and effective communication and promotional strategies.

“PATA’s aim is to give practical assistance to member destinations impacted by crisis. Speedy recovery of the travel sector is the goal,” he said.

The chief executive added travel patterns between China, Japan and Korea were very large and intimately connected.

“Each of these destinations is highly dependent on the other for huge volumes of inbound and outbound travel,” explained Calderwood.

“It is logical that they should collaborate to rebuild their business. PATA will offer practical support to the best of its abilities.”

At the PATA 60th Anniversary and Conference in Beijing in April 2011, PATA pledged to create its own Rapid Recovery Task Force to address post-crisis recovery strategies in the face of natural, economic, or political upheaval in member destinations.

The Task Force, which is under creation, will comprise a group of PATA members who are international professionals with extensive experience in the field of crisis management and recovery strategies.