• PATA Gold Awards 2021 to be presented to 20 organisations recognising their achievements

    PATA Gold Awards 2021 to be presented to 20 organisations recognising their achievements

    Travel Biz News —

    Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced 20 winners of the PATA Gold Awards 2021 during the Online PATA Gold Awards presentation ceremony held in Bangkok today.

    Supported and sponsored by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) for the last 26 years, this year’s awards recognise the achievements of 20 organisations and individuals.

    A panel of 18 independent judges from around the world selected the winners of the 18 Gold Awards and two Grand Title Winners.  

    Since its inception in 1984, the winning projects of these awards have set industry standards for excellence and innovation, serving as examples for others to follow.

    The Grand Title Winner for best of show in Marketing was presented to Macao Government Tourism Office USA and the Grand Title Winner for Sustainability and Social Responsibility was announced as Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, according to a statement issued by PATA International.

    The PATA Grand Title Winners were presented to outstanding entries in two principal categories: Marketing, and Sustainability and Social Responsibility.

    PATA presented 18 Gold Awards to such organisations as the Catalan Tourist Board, Designated Areas for Sustainable Development Administration (DASTA); Galaxy Entertainment Group, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, MGM China, Outrigger Hospitality Group, Plaza Premium Group, SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ayala Land, Inc. – Ten Knots Group, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Malaysia, and TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd.

    “Amid the global disruption we are living due to the pandemic, the outstanding initiatives in tourism marketing and sustainability of this year’s PATA Gold Awards winners are a beacon of light for the industry. Macao is honored to maintain its long-standing support to this PATA initiative and contribute to help rebuild a more responsible and sustainable tourism industry,” said Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of MGTO.

    Similarly , PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera said that  the achievements of this year’s winners will  inspire and encourage tourism industry to create new responsible and sustainable initiatives as we look towards recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    PATA Grand Title Winners 2021

    1- Marketing

    Dream Now and Travel Later , Macao Government Tourism Office USA Representative Office, Macao, China

    2 -Sustainability and Social Responsibility

    Cinnamon Travel Pledge , Cinnamon Hotel Management Ltd, Sri Lanka

    PATA Gold Award Winners 2021           

    1 – Marketing Campaign (National – Asia)

    Special Tourist Visa (STV) ,Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand

    2 – Marketing Campaign (State and City – Global)

    360 Hong Kong Moments – Great Outdoors ,Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong SAR

    3 – Marketing – Carrier

    #SriLankanPromises ,SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Sri Lanka

    4- Marketing – Hospitality

    The Outrigger Promise ,Outrigger Hospitality Group, USA

    5- Marketing – Industry

    Plaza Premium Group – Build Back Better ,Plaza Premium Group, Hong Kong SAR

    6- Digital Marketing Campaign

    Legends of Catalonia ,Catalan Tourist Board, Spain

    7- Printed Marketing Campaign

    DIVE INTO YOUR DREAM – MALAYSIA 365 DAYS ,Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia

    8- Travel Video

    A Glimpse into Meridian Adventure Dive Resort – Raja Ampat ,Meridian Adventure Dive Resort, Indonesia

    9-Travel Photograph

    The sunset view of Jingzaijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields ,Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Chinese Taipei

    10-Destination Article

    Georgia, queen of the desert ,Catherine Marshall, Australia

    11- Business Article

    TTG Asia July 2020: Loyalty wars ,TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd, Singapore

    12- Climate Change Initiative

    Above & Beyond – Melco’s Sustainability Strategy ,Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Macao, China

    13 – Corporate Social Responsibility

    Be GREEN and GREAT in the time of COVID-19 , Ayala Land, Inc. – Ten Knots Group, Philippines

    14-Community Based Tourism

    Tour Dure ,Korea Tourism Organization, Korea (ROK)

    15 – Culture

    Galaxy Entertainment Group – Promoting Cultural Tourism through our Foundation ,Galaxy Entertainment Group, Macao, China

    16 – Heritage

    THE DIVERSE HERITAGE OF KUBANG BADAK BIOGEOTRAIL

    Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia

    17 -Youth Empowerment Initiative

    MGM Youth Empowerment and Engagement Initiative ,MGM China, Macao, China

    18 – Human Capital Development Initiative

    DASTA CBT Integrated Curriculum , Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thailand

    September 8 , 2021

    • Connecting you with the world of travel and tourism

      Theme Park Expo Vietnam 2025

      Asia Pool & Spa Expo , May 10 – 12, 2025 , Guangzhou , China

      KAZAKHSTAN International Exhibition “Tourism & Travel” Almaty, Kazakhstan

      Nihao China- Beyond your imagination

      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)