• Director Senna Fernandes participates in the UNWTO/PATA Leaders Debate on challenges the tourism industry faces today with tourism leaders from around the world
  • Director Senna Fernandes takes a group photo with PATA Executive Board members following her election to her new PATA roles

Senna Fernandes Elected PATA Secretary/Treasurer

LISTEN STOP Your browser does not support this feature

The PATA Annual Summit 2018 - jointly organised by the Korea Tourism Organization and Gangwon Province in Gangneung, Korea, and held from 17th to 20th May - attracted 372 delegates representing some 182 entities from 41 countries and regions across Asia Pacific. The Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, and President of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), Fanny Vong, attended the Summit and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)/PATA Leaders Debate held in tandem. On 20th May Director Senna Fernandes was elected PATA Secretary/Treasurer.

The role of PATA Secretary/Treasurer is to oversee the administration of the Association's financial affairs whilst acting as Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee for the next two years. Director Senna Fernandes said that it was a great honour to be entrusted with the new role to serve in PATA, and a privilege for Macao to join all other members in helping create a more sustainable future for the region's tourism industry.

PATA has been a valuable platform for Macao to promote its destination and connect with the global travel trade, with MGTO actively engaged in the affairs of the Association by, for example, continuously supporting the PATA Gold Awards, which recognise outstanding practitioners in the field of tourism and helps cultivate industry professionals.

Revolving around this year's theme of 'Building bridges, connecting people - how collaboration creates opportunities,' the Summit explored the impact of the tourism industry upon driving economic progress and building a global community of diverse cultures in harmony. The programme included themed panel discussions, UNWTO/PATA Leaders Debate, the PATA Annual General Meeting and the PATA Youth Symposium, among other meetings and activities.