Slovenian signs up for PATA membership

BANGKOK  Slovenian Tourist Board has joined Pacific Asia Travel Association as its newest national tourism organisation member.
The Slovenian Tourist Board (Spirit Slovenia) is tasked with marketing Slovenian tourism to European and overseas markets through partnership with the tourism industry and other stakeholders.
PATA CEO Mario Hardy said: “I would like to personally welcome the Republic of Slovenia to the PATA family. They understand the importance of the tremendous growth and influence of the Asia-Pacific region, and, through PATA’s various activities, they will now have access to PATA’s extensive network of members, as well as our in-depth research and insights to help them responsibly develop tourism in their country.”
Head of the tourism division at SPIRIT Slovenia, Karmen Novarlič added: “The Asia-Pacific region is already an exceptionally important market for the Slovenian tourism industry, accounting for over 10% of all foreign guest arrivals in 2014.”
inside no 6Located in central Europe, Slovenia, critics might wonder how PATA’s Asia-Pacific boundaries stretched all the way to Europe to recruit Slovenia as a full member.
PATA will justify the move by saying it has a role to promote outbound tourism from the Asia-Pacific to places like Slovenia that need to tap the association’s extensive network in the outbound travel space
According to the World Tourism Organization, the country saw a 4.8% year-on-year increase in international visitors in 2013, from 2.156 million to 2.259 million.
According to its own promotional messages, Pacific Asia Travel Association acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia-Pacific region.
PATA’s members comprise 87 government, state and city tourism bodies, 24 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 59 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia-Pacific and beyond.
PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney, Dubai, and London.

sourced:ttrweekly.com