Events, Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

LR: Thoyyib Mohammed, CEO, Visit Maldives; Harry Hwang, Director, Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO; Sharzede Datu Hj. Salleh Askor, CEO, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB); Peter Semone, Chair, PATA; YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Sarawak; YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister of Tourism, and YBhg. Datu Sherrina binti Hussaini, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Sarawak.
The PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023 (PDFM 2023), with the theme “Sustainability in Action”, officially began on Wednesday, June 21 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, attracting 272 delegates from 28 destinations.
The event, organised in collaboration with destination partners, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts of Sarawak, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau, brought together delegates from the public and private sectors for inspiring and insightful discussions on some of the major issues in marketing and managing tourism growth as the travel and tourism industry looks for new opportunities to promote sustainability within the industry.
Delegates travelled from all corners of the globe including Australia, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (ROK), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and USA.
“The PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023, under the theme “Sustainability in Action” is extremely relevant as the industry begins its road to recovery. Climate change and over-tourism are existential threats to Pacific Asia’s visitor industry. Coming out of COVID, there are really only two options: ignore the environmental and social consequences of mass tourism in a business-as-usual manner; or seize the opportunity to recalibrate how we measure tourism success and account for its invisible burden. As we look towards the future, we need to take concrete actions and avoid the mistakes of the past,” said PATA Chair Peter Semone. “It is this type of collaboration with our destination partners, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts of Sarawak, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau, that epitomizes the fundamental nature of PATA’s mission in acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. We as an industry must work together to create a better future for all by achieving long-term sustainability in conjunction with long-term growth and profitability.”
Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) CEO Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor said,” Sarawak is the perfect venue for PDMF 2023 in highlighting on Ecotourism, Gastronomy Tourism, Adventure Travel as these themes are very much aligned with Sarawak’s tourism philosophy that emphasises on Responsible Tourism, gastronomy and sustainability in its effort in making Sarawak a preferred eco-tourism destination, in the region.”ADVERTISEMENT“I am happy that all delegates will have an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with Sarawak’s tourism industry stakeholders as well as from around the region to understand more on the importance of adopting sustainable practices, such as waste reduction, recycling, and responsible resource consumption, to minimize the negative environmental footprint of tourism while enhancing the overall visitor experience,” she added.
On Wednesday, June 21, delegates had the opportunity to join one of three different routes where they could fully experience the destination’s responsible tourism, ecotourism, and gastronomy tourism offerings that highlighted Sarawakian culture, heritage, and history.
During the conference on Thursday, June 23 and June 24, delegates will hear from a diverse line-up of experts from such organisations as World Tourism Organization, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the Asian Ecotourism Network, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation, Intrepid Travel, Expedia Group Media Solutions and Sojern, as well as Audra Morrice, Masterchef Asia/and Singapore Host & Judge, to name a few.
From climate action strategies to digital marketing, the broad yet critical topics provided a clearer direction for the industry to embrace the new era of travel with greater responsibility and convert their plans into action.
Topics include ‘Sustainability in Action’, ‘Climate Action Strategies for Destinations & Operators ‘, ‘Recalculating the Measurements of Success’, ‘Tourism’s Role for Development ‘, ‘The Power of Gastronomy Tourism for Destinations ‘, ‘Setting Your Sustainability Goals and Executing them’, ‘Leveraging New Trends in Sustainable Forms of Tourism’ and ‘Using Digital Marketing to Drive Sustainability’.
Over these two days, buyers and sellers will also have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one networking and contracting opportunities during the table-top tradeshow to explore potential collaborations and business opportunities.
For more information about the event, visit www.pata.org/pata-destination-experience-forum-and-mart-2023 or email [email protected]

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Hong Kong – Join Interactive Street Performances, X-Games and Miscellaneous Outdoor Experiences Anytime; Tickets for First Eight Music Shows in the Harbour Available Tomorrow
Starting from 8 July, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will bring the “Harbour Chill Carnival” to the Wan Chai waterfront for five consecutive weekend evenings, featuring street performances, X-game performances, and A Symphony of Lights Waterfront Pyrotechnic Edition.Among the activities, only Music Shows in the Harbour requires tickets for admission. Tickets of the first eight sessions of the Music Shows in the Harbour will be distributed for free through HKTB’s online e-platform (https://www.discoverhongkong.com/hk-eng/what-s-new/events/harbour-chillcarnival/music-shows/ticket.html ) from 10am tomorrow (27 June). All tickets are available first-come, first-served.
Members of the public can now sign up for an account on the e-platform on the Discover Hong Kong website and check out the performance line-ups (https://www.discoverhongkong.com/hkeng/what-s-new/events/harbour-chill-carnival/music-shows.html ) before getting the tickets tomorrow.

Each account can obtain tickets for a maximum of two sessions at the same time, with a maximum of two tickets for each session.The first eight sessions will be held on 8 July (Saturday), 9 July (Sunday), 15 July (Saturday), and16 July (Sunday), with two sessions each evening.ADVERTISEMENTThere will be a total of 20 sessions of Music Shows in Victoria Harbour, with over 40 groups from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia taking turns to perform. Tickets for the remaining 12 concerts will be available at 10 am, 27 July, Monday
Besides the Music Shows in the Harbour, the “Harbour Chill Carnival” features a series of thrilling activities, including characteristic street performances, dynamic X-game performances and time-limited A Symphony of Lights Waterfront Pyrotechnic Edition. Members of the public can visit the Wan Chai Waterfront Precinct during the Carnival and enjoy the shows without admission tickets.
Come and watch national and top local skateboarders perform challenging and skilled tricks or the dynamic nightview with the summer pyro display along the Harbour front. Don’t miss the chance!

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North Saint Lucia is one of the most popular locations for visitors to stay. It has seemingly everything just a few minutes away. While this area is harder to get to from the airport, many visitors are likely to stay in this region during their visit.Nature lovers will appreciate Pigeon Island National Park, which you can reach by car over a causeway. This park offers hiking opportunities, as well as places for kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming. Take some time to walk around the old fort ruins and imagine what it would be like back in the 1700s.
North Saint Lucia is also home to the town of Rodney Bay, which has some of the top Saint Lucia beaches as well as popular nightlife spots. Plantation beach faces the Atlantic side, so you can take advantage of wind sports and surfing. Or you can visit Treasure Bay Casino Saint Lucia and try your luck with cards or roulette. North Saint Lucia has more diverse activities, and is ideal for groups of people traveling together or for families.
The magical island of Saint Lucia will host the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2023 on 26 August 2023. The leading travel industry figureheads from across the region will attend the red-carpet reception at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “I am honoured to unveil Saint Lucia as the host of our Caribbean & Americas Gala Ceremony 2023, in this our landmark 30th anniversary. Saint Lucia is helping to spearhead the recovery of travel and tourism in the Caribbean, and I am delighted this captivating island will form a crucial part of our anniversary tour.”He adds: “World Travel Awards has maintained its position as the industry leader for the past 30 years, consistently proving its value as the global benchmark for recognising excellence in travel and tourism. I look forward to joining the most senior travel industry figureheads from across the Caribbean and The Americas for what promises to be a fabulous event, acknowledging those organisations spearheading the growth of the region’s travel and tourism sector.”

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As the veil of night falls on Saint Lucia, the island’s celebrated nightlife emerges.

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Fourth of July is a time for patriotic celebrations across the United States, and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will commemorate the holiday with exciting fanfare.
Star-spangled spectaculars are a time-honored tradition across the resort, reflecting Walt Disney’s deep love of America and faith in the nation’s future.
Here are some of the ways guests can celebrate the stars and stripes this July 4 holiday. 
Nighttime Spectaculars Light Up the Skies Magic Kingdom Park – Park Hours: July 3, 8 a.m.-12 midnight.; July 4, 8 a.m.-1 a.m. “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” – a nighttime spectacular with booming fireworks lighting up the sky and orchestrated to patriotic melodies. Shows will take place July 3 and July 4 at 9:20 p.m.  Guests can also dance the night away with DJs mixing tunes throughout the park.  EPCOT – Park Hours: July 4, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. “EPCOT Forever,” the limited-time spectacle of fireworks, lasers, lighting and special effects, will include a patriotic Fourth of July grand finale – “Heartbeat of Freedom.” The show will take place at 9 p.m. A cappella vocal group Voices of Liberty will perform numbers from the American song book beneath the rotunda in The American Adventure.  Some of your favorite Disney pals will don their “Spirit of ’76” attire and meet with guests throughout the day, also at The American Adventure.  Celebrating at Disney Resort Hotels Disney Resort hotels get into the red, white and blue spirit with an array of patriotic events and activities. From campfire cookouts at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground to Movies Under the Stars or a leisurely afternoon poolside, summer delights abound. Guests staying in resort hotels on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake can cap off their day viewing the nightly Electrical Water Pageant. This cavalcade of sea creatures in lights includes a patriotic grand finale featuring the American flag and stars all in sparkling lights. More information about special activities is available in each resort’s daily schedule.
Food That Is Worth a Salute ADVERTISEMENT
For a limited time, Walt Disney World guests can dazzle their taste buds with patriotic bites and sips in honor of the nation’s birthday. Indulgences returning this year include a Fourth of July Fruit Tart, a blackberry custard topped with fresh berries and a vanilla panna cotta popsicle, available June 27-July 4 at Contempo Café in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. At EPCOT, look for a Fourth of July Liege Waffle, available on July 4 only at Connections Café. There will be many more tantalizing treats at all four parks, Disney Springs, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and resort hotels. For more details, stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog.
Celebrate the 4th of July Every Day America is celebrated every day of the year at Walt Disney World, with fan favorite attractions that pay tribute to the country’s history. 
Main Street, U.S.A., inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri, is a step back in time to a quintessential American town at the turn of the 20th century. The colorful Victorian setting is where guests can enjoy the famous Dapper Dans barbershop quartet, horse-drawn carriages and the high-flying revelry of the Main Street Philharmonic band.  Since the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, the daily Flag Retreat ceremony has retired the American flag for the night in a celebratory tribute to U.S. Veterans, who often participate in the ceremony, receiving warm recognition for their service and sacrifice. Set in the Revolutionary War era, Liberty Square pays tribute to daily life in the original thirteen colonies. Guests can get up close to an authentic replica of the Liberty Bell and meet all 45 Presidents of the United States in a stirring show tracing the nation’s history inside the Hall of Presidents. A walk along the Rivers of America from Liberty Square to neighboring Frontierland is a journey through the country’s era of westward expansion.  The American Adventure located in World Showcase at EPCOT features a dramatic production including 35 Audio-Animatronics figures that retell pivotal moments and events throughout the country’s history. From the landing of the Mayflower to Valley Forge, the Civil War to the Great Depression, Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain guide guests on this trip through time.  Note that to experience any in-park offerings, guests must have valid theme park admission and may need a theme park reservation depending on type of admission and date of visit. The ability to visit a theme park is subject to the park’s capacity limitations. 
Guests can visit DisneyWorld.com for more information about planning their Fourth of July celebration at Walt Disney World Resort.

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A variety of competitions including the ever-popular Power and Groovy Monarch, Senior and Junior Panoramas (Steel Pan Competitions), and the Inter-Commercial House Calypso completion, dozens of community events, and of course a continuous calendar of parties and fetes. The season culminates in an exciting, fun-filled two-day street parade of live bands and DJ music, stunning Carnival costumes and the joyous and energetic revelry typical of Caribbean carnivals. This is a very special celebration of Caribbean history, culture and creativity. Under the leadership of the Cultural Development Foundation and in collaboration with all stakeholders, Saint Lucia Carnival is recognized as one of the top Carnivals in the Caribbean and becomes a more vibrant and creative event each year.
The magical island of Saint Lucia will host the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2023 on 26 August 2023. The leading travel industry figureheads from across the region will attend the red-carpet reception at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.
Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “I am honoured to unveil Saint Lucia as the host of our Caribbean & Americas Gala Ceremony 2023, in this our landmark 30th anniversary. Saint Lucia is helping to spearhead the recovery of travel and tourism in the Caribbean, and I am delighted this captivating island will form a crucial part of our anniversary tour.”He adds: “World Travel Awards has maintained its position as the industry leader for the past 30 years, consistently proving its value as the global benchmark for recognising excellence in travel and tourism. I look forward to joining the most senior travel industry figureheads from across the Caribbean and The Americas for what promises to be a fabulous event, acknowledging those organisations spearheading the growth of the region’s travel and tourism sector.”

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From today, exhibitors at ITB Berlin 2024 can register their stand at the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show, which next year will be taking place live from 5 to 7 March on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Parallel with opening for registrations, ITB Berlin is also launching a new online portal which exhibitors can use to make all preparations for their participation. Full details can be found on the exhibitor portal of ITB Berlin 2024. Companies who decide to register early on the new online portal by 1 August 2023 can also take advantage of favourable Early Bird rates.
“Following this year’s successful return of ITB Berlin we are pleased to already be giving exhibitors the opportunity to register for 2024. Discussions with our customers have given clear signs that we can expect high demand. That is why we advise our customers to register soon, so they can take advantage of Early Bird rates and make sure of the best places in the halls“, said Deborah Rothe, Exhibition Director, ITB Berlin.
The new exhibitor portal is the first place to head for participation in ITB Berlin. In addition to reserving their own stand, main exhibitors can also register co-exhibitors and make service bookings for their participation in the show. Following stand registration, a confirmation message will be sent with additional details. After the deadline of 1 September 2023 the ITB team will plan the hall layout and shortly afterwards send suggestions for hall allocations. Immediately after accepting their allocation exhibitors will be sent an official order confirmation by ITB Berlin. The web shop for all service orders is available from autumn 2023. Information on prices and further details can be found here: ITB Berlin – Stand registration.  https://www.itb.com/en/itb/stand-registration/
Registering early is worthwhile
ITB Berlin rewards those who register early with attractive Early Bird rates. This applies to all registrations received on the exhibitor portal by 1 August 2023. A detailed price list can be found on the website of ITB Berlin.ADVERTISEMENTStructured layout by region and segment
In spite of its size and the wide range of products and services shown by more than 180 countries and territories, the hall layout at ITB Berlin is clearly structured. In addition to the geographical layout by destination, there are also divisions by market segment under important tourism headings. They include Business Travel, MICE, Travel Technology and Tours & Activities (TTA), Cultural Tourism, LGBTQ+ Travel, Youth & Adventure Travel, Responsible Tourism, Medical Tourism, Luxury Travel and Careers.
Detailed information on the segments can be found under ITB Berlin Segments. https://www.itb.com/en/trade-show-brands/segments/

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UNWTO’s Members from Asia and the Pacific met as recovery from the impacts of the pandemic on tourism in the region steadily accelerates. According to UNWTO data:
Worldwide, twice as many people travelled internationally in the first three months of 2023 than in the same period of 2022, taking global tourism back to 80% of pre-pandemic levels.For Asia and the Pacific, however, international arrivals got back to 54% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the quarter.Recovery across the region is expected to accelerate following the re-opening of China to tourism. China was the world’s biggest tourism source market in 2019. Reflecting the significance of the moment, a high-level delegation from UNWTO visited China in February to mark the official re-opening.
“It is no exaggeration to say that, over the past year, all eyes in global tourism were on Asia and the Pacific,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “Asia and the Pacific plays a key role in the state of our sector. It is a top source market, a hub of tourism innovation and home to many of the world’s leading businesses and most exciting destinations.”
Demonstrating Cambodia’s strong political support for UNWTO’s mission, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with the Secretary-General to discuss the steady acceleration of tourism in the region after the pandemic, while emphasizing the sector’s vital importance for sustainable development of tourism in the country and across the wider region.
UNWTO welcomed a participation to the joint Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia Joint Commission, including 15 Ministers, Deputy Ministers of Tourism and Ambassadors, and with 25 countries represented. The Meeting was held in conjunction with the 55th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP), the 59th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CSA), the UNWTO Conference on International Code for the Protection of Tourists and the UNWTO Affiliate Members Roundtable.ADVERTISEMENTAsia and Pacific Members Support UNWTO PrioritiesMember States were provided with an overview of UNWTO’s achievements guiding tourism forward, based on its Programme of Work and current priorities including:
Education: Of the 300 education programmes certified by UNWTO’s Ted.Qual initiative, 160 are offered in Asia and the Pacific, to help tourism professionals grow in their careers. To support youth empowerment, UNWTO is also launching national versions of its Students League, with China currently developing its own edition.Investments in Tourism: Fostering the implementation of sustainable investment frameworks for the promotion of tourism investments and job creation in a post-pandemic world was one of the main objectives of UNWTO’s Executive Training Programme in the Republic of Korea last November. And in Phnom Penh, UNWTO invited Members to join the 2023 World Tourism Day celebrations (27 September), to be held around the theme of “Green Investments”.Sustainability: UNWTO announced that the Batanes Tourism Observatory in the Philippines has become the newest member of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), with an institution in Japan set to follow soon.Advancing the International Code for Protection of TouristsAhead of the Commission meeting, UNWTO held a special conference on its International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT). Here:
Cambodia, the Maldives and Indonesia became the newest signatories to UNWTO’s International Code for the Protection of Tourists.UNWTO’s Member States across the Asia and the Pacific region adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration on the ICPT, promoting its implementation to ensure clear, transparent and efficient frameworks to protect tourists as consumers to foster confidence in travel.Affiliate Members RoundtableUnder the theme “Public-private cooperation at the core of tourism sustainable development”, discussions focused on the importance of finding mechanisms to reinforce the dialogue between all tourism stakeholders and showcased tangible examples of initiatives and projects implemented by Affiliate Members to foster sustainable practices in the tourism sector.
Looking AheadIn line with UNWTO’s statutory obligations, Members from East Asia and the Pacific nominated China, Indonesia, Japan and Republic of Korea to represent the region on the UNWTO Executive Council.
The two Commissions for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia also agreed that:
The 36th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia will be held in Cebu, Philippines in 2024.World Tourism Day 2025, to be held around the theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” will be hosted by Malaysia.

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It’s been an exciting couple of months for Weeva as momentum gathers around the new digital sustainability management platform built FOR the tourism industry, BY the tourism industry.In April, MD Julie Cheetham and Sustainability Content and Support Lead Nwabisa Mjoli were delighted to accept Weeva’s first Responsible Tourism Award for “Addressing Climate Change” at WTM Africa. The new, disruptive data management tech is also making waves internationally – making it to the last three finalists from thousands of applicants for both the UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge and the Business Travel Awards Europe for “Achievement in Sustainability: data and reporting”.
Weeva was also excited to sponsor the Sustainability Stage at the We Are Africa Open House in Cape Town last month, which included a special Africa edition of the “Funny Old World” podcast hosted by eco-guru Juliet Kinsman (Sustainability Editor) and media pundit Simon London.In this bonus WAA episode they drew interesting insights from both experts and new voices in sustainable travel on topics including:
⚡ Why you cannot shame the luxury traveller into being more sustainable
⚡ How to spot the difference between marketing ploys and genuine action
⚡ Tell don’t sell — why stories matter in today’s media landscapeADVERTISEMENT⚡ The lessons luxury tourism properties can take from manufacturing lines
Julie Cheetham, Managing Director of Weeva, also presented and facilitated an interactive sustainability masterclass at the Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda (STAS) conference alongside Dr Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner, Director of The Long Run, hosted at the Serena Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa, Kenya from 8-9 June 2023.
Users will be able to produce impact reports for their tour operator and travel agent partners backed by real data.  You can view the demo video on weeva.earth, sign up for the newsletter and follow weareweeva on LinkedIn, Facebook,  Instagram and YouTube.

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