PATA announces new chair and executive board

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has shown off its new-look executive board, with Soon-Hwa Wong formally endorsed chair.

Wong replaces Dr Chris Bottrill, who was elected chair of PATA in May 2018 and remains a member of its executive board as immediate past chair.

Wong has some 40 years of industry experience in the Asia-Pacific region, having previously worked in senior roles at Hertz and Air New Zealand, as well as founding consultancy Asia Tourism and setting up tourism- and trade-focused company AsiaChina.

His long association with PATA dates back to 1996, and he has served in various capacities over the years.

Presently serving as chairman of the PATA Singapore chapter, Wong is also the recipient of the PATA Life Member Award in 2018 and PATA Award of Merit in 2008.

“It is indeed an honour to be given the privilege to serve PATA members, especially in a time like this,” he said.

“PATA will celebrate a significant milestone, our 70th anniversary, next year. We are embarking on a comprehensive organisation redesign that will transform PATA into an association that will lead the tourism industry into the post-COVID future and beyond.

“Together with our industry partners from both the public and private sector, we will commit to sustainable tourism development to benefit the economic wellbeing of the community at large.”

During PATA’s board meeting held virtually on Monday 12 October, the association also elected six new members to its executive board.

They are Hai Ho (Triip Pte Ltd), Suman Pandey (Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure), Andrew Jones (Sanctuary Resorts), Dr Fanny Vong (Macao Institute for Tourism Studies), Oliver Martin (Twenty31 Consulting Inc), and Peter Semone (Destination Human Capital Limited).

Ho and Pandey were elected as PATA’s new vice chairman and secretary/treasurer, respectively.