Successful PATA Hub City Forum held in Chengdu, China

BANGKOK - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Chengdu Culture & Tourism Development Group are pleased to have co-hosted the 2014 PATA Hub City Forum: Chengdu at the Sichuan Jinjiang Hotel in Chengdu, China on December 22, 2014.

The purpose of the forum was to analyse current international travel trends, hold discussions on improving the market competitiveness and attractiveness of hub city tourism destinations, and explore the 72-hour visa free transit policy.

Delegates ranged from tourism destinations, hotels, airlines, online travel agencies (OTAs), and traditional travel agencies from the Sichuan province. The event included two main topics for discussion: Creating a Hub City – Air and Land Transportation, and How Can Traditional Operators and OTAs Help to Create a Hub City.

Former PATA Chairman and Honorary Chairman of the PATA China Panel of Experts, Mr Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, delivered the opening speech at the forum. Other speakers at the event included Mr John Koldowski, Special Advisor to PATA CEO; Ms Sarah Mathews, Destination Marketing Senior Sales Manager APAC, TripAdvisor; Miss Nasanka Lei, Air Transport Officer of Air Transport & International Relations Civil Aviation of Macau; Ms Jennifer Lan, Business General Manager, Ctrip.com; and Miss Tang, Marketing Manager, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

In addition, Ms. Yang Wenzhen, Former Director General of Department of Management and Department of Marketing of CNTA and Former Vice President of CITS, provided insightful analysis for building a hub city.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia