2 April 2003KUALA LUMPUR -The Australian Tourist Commission's (ATC)
decision to renew its participation at the PATA Travel Mart
after several years of absence was prompted by the new
approach being taken by the trade event.
Maggie White, ATC general manager, South and South-east
Asia, said the new approach was appealing as the "proposed
special interest focus does not presently exist with other
trade events".
The ATC has booked 36sqm of space and may expand the
area further, according to PATA.
The ATC's absence has long been a sore point with PATA
management who has been keen to bring the NTO back into the
mart's fold.
White said it was "too long to remember" exactly how
long the ATC had been away from the mart. It "stayed away
as industry partners saw little value in event as most
believed it was duplicating existing ATC events", she
said.
She added, "As a destination member, we believe we
should support this new PATA initiative and give it an
opportunity to develop. It's not something the ATC does
presently."
PATA's managing director-events, Sheila Leong, said, "We
hope ATC's participation acts as a catalyst for other
Pacific destinations to join PATA Travel Mart 2003."
More than 1,600 sqm have been booked to date. It is
currently negotiating with Tourism New Zealand and the
Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand.