The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) launched its 75th Anniversary campaign under the theme “From Vision to Legacy” during the PATA Knowledge Forum 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.
The year-long campaign will celebrate the Association’s founding and culminate at the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Gyeongju and Pohang, Republic of Korea.
The announcement featured the unveiling of a 75th Anniversary logo, the screening of a short video highlighting PATA’s history, and details of upcoming initiatives. The campaign emphasizes PATA’s role in responsible tourism development across Asia Pacific while promoting innovation, collaboration, and adaptability to meet the changing needs of the global travel industry.
Key Elements of the Anniversary
The 75th Anniversary is themed “From Vision to Legacy: PATA at 75,” linking the Association’s past achievements to its ongoing mission. Launched on August 26, 2025, in Bangkok, the campaign includes interactive and commemorative activities that will run through May 2026. The celebrations will begin with events at the PATA Travel Mart 2025 in Bangkok and conclude at the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Korea.
PATA’s Mission and Message
In his address, Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of PATA, reflected on the organization’s founding principles. “Seventy-four years ago, our founders came together when the world longed for peace, healing, and hope. Their vision was simple yet powerful: to use travel as a bridge between cultures, as a pathway to prosperity, and as a passport to peace,” he said. “That vision continues to guide us today, reminding us that the work we do is not just about tourism, but about connecting people and creating understanding across borders.”
He added, “It is in that same spirit — honoring the founders’ vision and embracing our ongoing mission — that I am delighted to officially launch the celebrations for PATA’s 75th Anniversary in 2026.”
Interactive Engagement
A major feature of the campaign is the launch of the webpage “Lost in Time, Found by You: Your Memories Complete the Picture.” The site hosts digitised photos from PATA’s archives, many of which remain unidentified. Members, partners, and the public are invited to provide details to identify people, places, or events shown in the images. Participants can also upload their own photos, stories, and memories related to PATA’s history.
The initiative highlights the Association’s collaborative approach, allowing the global community to contribute to preserving its legacy. By engaging members and partners directly, PATA underscores the importance of shared history and collective memory in shaping the future of tourism.
Future Celebrations
The anniversary campaign will extend through 2026 with special programming, including activities at the PATA booth during PATA Travel Mart 2025. The official culmination will take place in May 2026 at the PATA Annual Summit in Gyeongju and Pohang, Korea, where industry leaders and stakeholders will gather to honor the milestone and discuss the future of sustainable tourism in Asia Pacific.
Suat Tore participated in PATA Travel Mart 2025 in Bangkok, representing FTNnews.com, one of the official media partners of the event. His presence highlighted the platform’s ongoing commitment to providing global coverage of key travel and tourism industry gatherings, ensuring that the developments and outcomes of PTM 2025 reached an international audience of travel professionals and stakeholders.
Through the 75th Anniversary, PATA aims to connect past achievements with future priorities, reinforcing its influence on regional tourism development and its commitment to fostering sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across the Asia Pacific travel industry.
Top Group Photo: Announcing the soft launch of the PATA 75th Anniversary Celebration are PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid (fourth from left) and PATA Chair Peter Semone (sixth from left), joined by PATA Life Members (L/R): Rabendra Raj Pandey, Chairman, Everest Express International P. Ltd.; Darren Ng, Managing Director, TTG Asia Media Pte. Ltd.; Jae Pil Sho, Editor & Publisher, Travel Press-Korea; Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macao Government Tourism Office; Soon-Hwa Wong, CEO, Asia Tourism Pte Ltd., Tunku Iskandar, Group President, Mitra Malaysia Sdn.Bhd.; Andrew Drysdale, Life Member, PATA; and Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts.
