• PATA announces Grand , Gold Award winners 2019

    PATA announces Grand , Gold Award winners 2019

    Travel Biz News —

    Bangkok – Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the winners of the 2019 PATA Grand and Gold Awards today (July 15).

    These awards, supported and sponsored since 1995 by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), this year recognise the achievements of 27 separate organisations and individuals, according to a release issued by PATA.

    The 2019 PATA Gold Awards presentation ceremony will be held in Nur-Sultan (Astana), Kazakhstan on September 19 during PATA Travel Mart 2019.

    This year’s awards, 33 Grand and Gold Awards, attracted 197 entries from 78 organisations and individuals worldwide. The winners were selected by an independent judging committee of 14 personalities of different countries.

    The PATA Grand Awards are presented to outstanding entries in four principal categories: Marketing; Education and Training; Environment, and Heritage and Culture.

    IECD (Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement), ASSET-H&C, Thailand will receive the 2019 PATA Grand Award for Education and Training for its ‘Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality and Catering (ASSET-H&C)’ initiative. The network currently gathers 14 member-schools across Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

    The 2019 PATA Grand Award for Environment award will be presented to Elephant Hills Co., Ltd, Thailand for Elephant Hills, Thailand’s First Luxury Tented Jungle Camps.

    The 2019 PATA Grand Award for Heritage and Culture Award will be awarded to Sahapedia, India for its ‘India Heritage Walks’.

    The 2019 PATA Grand Award for Marketing Award will also be presented to the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) for its ‘Experience Macao Food Truck USA’ campaign.

    Winners of PATA awards –

    PATA Grand Award 2019

    1.Education and Training

    ASSET-H&C IECD, ASSET-H&C, Thailand 

    2.Environment

    Elephant Hills Elephant Hills Co., Ltd, Thailand 

    3. Heritage and Culture

    India Heritage Walks Sahapedia, India 

    4. Marketing

    Experience Macao Food Truck USA Macao Government Tourism Office, Macao, China 

     PATA Gold Award 2019

    1.Marketing – Primary Government Destination

    Find the Incredible You , Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, India 

    2. Marketing – Secondary Government Destination

    Free Buzzard in Mt. Bagua , Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei 

    3. Marketing – Carrier

    Two Cities One Spirit , SriLankan Airlines Ltd, Sri Lanka 

    4. Marketing – Hospitality

    Art of Winning Campaign , Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China 

    5. Marketing – Industry

    Malaysia International Gastronomy Festival ,. AsiaReach Events Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia 

    6. Marketing – Young Travellers

    Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance , Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR 

    7. Marketing – Adventure Travel

    Great Outdoors Hong Kong ,Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR 

    8.Environment – Corporate Environment Programme

    Responsible Eco-Sustainable Water Park , Waterbom Bali, Indonesia 

    9. Environment – Ecotourim Project

    Cardamom Tented Camp , YANNA Ventures, Thailand 

    10. Environment – Environmental Education Programme

    The Purple Ray Flash , Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei 

    11. Corporate Social Responsibility

    Borneo Eco Tours: Sustainable Growth , Borneo Eco Tours, Malaysia 

    12. Women Empowerment Initiative

    Ethnic Restaurant at Kumarakom , Kerala Tourism, India 

    13. Heritage and Culture – Heritage

    Payuan Community Slate Houses , Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei

    14. Heritage and Culture – Culture

    Guru Gedara Festival 2018 , Cinnamon Hotel Management Limited, Sri Lanka 

    15. Community based Tourism

    Airai State Cultural Tour , Palau Visitors Authority, Palau 

    16. Education and Training

    We Love to Care , Hotel ICON, Hong Kong SAR 

    17. Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Broadcast Media

    Come Out and Play Campaign , Kerala Tourism, India 

    18. Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Print Media

    2019 Korea Tourism Calendar: Travel Korea by Theme , Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)

    19. Marketing Media – Consumer Travel Brochure

    Mice Chess Box , Cox & Kings Limited, India 

    20. Marketing Media – E-Newsletter

    DiethelmCares , Diethelm Travel Group, Thailand

    21. Marketing Media – Travel Poster

    Khon – An Aesthetic Art of Drama , Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand

    22. Marketing Media – Public Relations Campaign

    Indy Guide – Insight Tourism on Central Asia and Mongolia , Indy Guide Ltd, Switzerland 

    23. Marketing – Social Media Campaign

    Discover Hong Kong Facebook Page , Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

    24. Marketing Media – Travel Video

    Why Limit Yourself , Sarawak Tourism, Malaysia 

    25. Marketing Media – Web Site

    www.keralatouirsm.org Kerala Tourism, India 

    26. Travel Journalism – Destination Article

    The Thailand you didn’t know you were missing , Kerry van der Jagt, Australia 

    The Sydney Morning Herald and online, November 7, 2018

    27. Travel Journalism – Business Article

    Magical Wand for Bangladesh Tourism , The Travel World, Bangladesh 

    28. Travel Journalism – Travel Photo

    Ramayana Hanuman Dance, Indonesia by Sandy Wijaya , Agency Fish, Indonesia 

    29. Travel Journalism – Travel Guidebook

    ebook on Thailand , Destination Asia, Thailand 

    Source : PATA HQ   July 15 , 2019

    Image : PATA Travel Mart 2019 venue – Almaty

    Wonderful City of Apples – Known as ‘the city of apples,’ Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan that served as its capital from 1936 to 1997. This is just the start of what participants will learn about the history and attractions of this Southern Capital! – PATA org.

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      India resumes tourist visa for

      Chinese citizens after 5 years

      India announced  that it will open tourist visa applications to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025. It was the first time in five years since the South Asian country suspended Chinese citizens’ tourist visa applications in February 2020.

      The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account  that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to three Indian visa application centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province.

      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

      Chinese experts said the latest move taken by the India marks a phased milestone in the easing of relations between the two countries, and creates favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

      On February 2, 2020, India temporarily suspended its e-visa facility for Chinese travelers and foreigners residing in China amid coronavirus outbreak. – Global Times

      Trump to pause anti-immigrant

      raids in hotels , restaurants

      US President Donald Trump has decided to temporarily suspend raids on farms, hotels and restaurants, according a media report.

      The US government has ordered immigration officials to pause raids and arrests on farms, hotels and restaurants, according to a report by the New York Times.

      Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were sent a directive asking that they refrain from heading to such establishments, which also include meatpacking plants and aquaculture.

      Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the report, saying in a statement that “we will follow the president’s direction and continue to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off America’s streets.”

      The pause in the raids potentially reflects the government’s concerns about the negative impact these operations are having on vital economic sectors, as well as electoral support. The agricultural industry, particularly in states like California, relies almost exclusively on immigrant labour for its day-to-day operations.

      The recent protests in Los Angeles, which were triggered by large-scale immigration raids in local communities, have increased pressure on the government. This situation poses a dilemma for the president, who is seeking to maintain the support of key constituencies ahead of the upcoming congressional and midterm elections in 2026.

      Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has implemented an unprecedentedly heavy-handed immigration policy. His cabinet officials recently held meetings with ICE leadership, setting a minimum quota of 3,000 arrests per day, a mandate that has resulted in intensified immigration raids nationwide.

      The temporary suspension of the agriculture and hospitality raids likely does not represent a fundamental change in Trump’s immigration policy, which remains aggressive in rhetoric.

      Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem pledhed that federal authorities are “not going away”, and that people who are in the country illegally, as well as violent protesters, will “face consequences”.

      The administration has relied heavily on a crime-focused message, which places significant emphasis on apprehending individuals illegally in the country who are also violent criminals.

      That message has been undercut, however, by statistics revealed this week which show the number of people arrested for immigration violations that have never faced other criminal charges or convictions has shot up from 860 in January this year to 7,800 this month.

      The number of individuals arrested with criminal charges and convictions also went up, but at a significantly lower rate of 91%. – Euronews , June 14, 2025

      Gulf Cooperation Council Tourism 

      Dubai – As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.

      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

      Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity”,  featured more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

      Messe Berlin India launched 

      to drive growth of ITB India 

      Messe Berlin announces the official launch of Messe Berlin India, a newly incorporated subsidiary that underscores the company’s long-term commitment to one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets. Headquartered in Delhi , the new entity will serve as a strategic base for expanding ITB India and launching future projects tailored to the Indian market. With this establishment, Messe Berlin is reinforcing its vision of India as a regional hub for innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth within the exhibition and events industry.

      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)