Guilin to be the permanent host of PATA Tourism Research Forum

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has signed a four-party agreement to establish a permanent tourism research forum for the Asia Pacific region in Guilin, China (PRC).

The agreement was made in Guilin at the UNWTO/PATA Forum on 'Tourism Trends and Outlook' last week.

PATA CEO Greg Duffell, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, Mayor of Guilin Li Zhigang and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) Director Kaye Chon were signatories to the agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Forum will 'provide an opportunity for policymakers, senior officials, researchers and industry representatives to take stock of the global and regional trends in tourism and the broader environment impacting upon tourism'.

The proposed structure of this permanent tourism research Forum in Guilin is a two-day conference and a technical tour.

The theme of the forum will vary annually and will be decided jointly by the four organisations  involved in the agreement.
PATA and the UNWTO are to continue as joint organisers of the Forum, working closely with the HKPU on all technical matters relating to each event.
The permanent sponsor and host city of Guilin is to provide the venue and agreed logistical support.

A Forum Secretariat is to be established within the Guilin Municipal Tourism Administration headquarters.

"This Forum, held in Guilin for the past three years, has an impressive track record in covering relevant issues of substance.
"It attracts high ranking delegates and an impressive cross-section of speakers from the public and private sectors as well as from academia.