PATA Summit 2025 urges for meaningful tourism
Travel Biz News —
İSTANBUL – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) successfully convened the PATA Annual Summit 2025 (PAS 2025) on April 21-23 in İstanbul, Türkiye.
Held under the theme “Timeless Wisdom for a Sustainable Future”, PAS 2025 brought together over 260 delegates from 35 destinations. The event was hosted by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) and supported by official airline partner Turkish Airlines.
PAS 2025 also marked a defining moment for the Association’s internal growth and governance. The Summit began with a series of productive internal meetings , including: Ratification of a new Vision and Mission for the Association Formal approval of the PATA Executive Board and Board members.
PATA Chair Peter Semone delivered a compelling call to action, urging the global tourism industry to adopt a more purposeful and impact-focused approach to growth.
“Tourism cannot survive without peace, nature, and community .In an era of climate instability and rising polarization, the tourism sector must go beyond growth metrics and instead become a vehicle for empathy, humility, and peace. That is the path to regeneration and resilience,” said Semone.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid reflected on tourism’s deeper value: “Tourism is an emotional economy. What we truly take away from travel are the moments, memories, and human connections. PAS 2025 is our opportunity to commit to tourism that uplifts, heals, and endures.”
With participants from across the Asia Pacific and beyond – including Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea (ROK), Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the USA, and more – the Summit featured over 40 speakers from leading organisations such as UN Tourism, BBC, Mastercard, Skyscanner, Amadeus, Airbnb, GSTC, and Tripadvisor.
During the closing ceremony, new partnerships and MoUs were also recognized, reflecting the collaborative spirit and shared vision that defined PAS 2025.
25 April 2025
