The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) successfully hosted the PATA Annual Summit 2025 (PAS 2025) from April 21-23 at the CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel in İstanbul, Turkey. Organized by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), with support from Turkish Airlines, the summit brought together over 260 delegates from 35 destinations.

Theme: Timeless Wisdom for a Sustainable Future

The event’s focus was not just on discussions but also on significant internal developments for the Association, including:

1. Ratification of a new Vision and Mission.
2. Formal approval of the PATA Executive Board.
3. Strategic dialogues advancing the PATA 2030 Strategy.

These initiatives echo PATA’s commitment to being the foremost voice for responsible tourism across Asia Pacific and beyond.

Leadership Messages: A Call for Purpose-Driven Tourism

At the conference, PATA Chair Peter Semone emphasized, “Tourism cannot survive without peace, nature, and community.” He called for the industry to transcend mere growth metrics and become a force for empathy, humility, and peace, crucial for long-term resilience. Later, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid mentioned, “Tourism is an emotional economy, where travel fosters moments and connections that uplift and heal.”

Global Engagement and Speaker Highlights

The summit featured over 40 speakers from organizations like UN Tourism, BBC, and Skyscanner. Key sessions covered topics like:

• Government-led dialogues on sustainability.
• Recent global travel trends.
• İstanbul’s evolving role in global aviation.

A new initiative, “Ask the PATA Experts”, allowed attendees to consult with specialists on various topics, supporting the PATA Strategy 2030 aimed at enhancing member engagement.