Pacific Asia Travel Association Honors Long-Standing Members at Pohang Summit 2026, Marking 75 Years of Regional Tourism Cooperation and Industry Growth

Pacific Asia Travel Association has paid tribute to its long time members at the PATA Executive Board and Board Member and PATA Awards Presentation Dinner that took place on May 11, as part of the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Pohang, Korea. This recognition was based on organisations that were PATA members for over 50, 60 and 70 years, thereby placing several decades of collaboration within the region’s tourism industry at the forefront of the summit. This event was particularly symbolic since it came at a time when 2026 is the 75th anniversary of PATA.

A Milestone Moment for PATA’s 75-Year Journey

The awards came at a symbolic time for PATA, which was founded in 1951 and has grown into a major membership association for tourism across the Asia Pacific region. The organisation has long connected destinations, airlines, hotels, travel agencies, tourism boards and education partners. Its work has supported destination marketing, knowledge exchange, industry dialogue and responsible tourism development. The 75th anniversary created a fitting platform to recognise members that remained part of the association for half a century or more. Their continued participation shows how long-term cooperation can build trust, regional visibility and stronger tourism frameworks across changing travel cycles.

Pohang Hosts a Ceremony Built on Legacy and Resilience

The recognition took place during PAS 2026 in Pohang, with Gyeongju also serving as a summit host city. The annual summit brought together tourism leaders and professionals under the theme Navigating Towards a Resilient Future. This theme gave the member recognition extra depth. It linked history with future strategy. The organisations honoured were not only celebrated for longevity. They were also positioned as examples of institutional resilience. Their decades of membership show how tourism partnerships can survive market changes, crises, technology shifts, policy reform and evolving traveller behaviour. For PATA, that continuity strengthens its voice across the region.

Seventy-Year Members Show the Deepest Roots of Regional Tourism Cooperation

The longest-serving members recognised included organisations with more than 70 years of association with PATA. These included Guam Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd. and the Philippine Department of Tourism. Other organisations also noted in this category included Destination NSW, Marianas Visitors Authority, Tahiti Tourisme and Tourism Fiji. This group reflects some of the earliest foundations of Pacific and Asian tourism cooperation. Their long membership points to the importance of island destinations, national tourism bodies and major travel companies in building cross-border visitor flows, aviation links and regional destination awareness.

Guam, Hawaii and the Philippines Highlight Pacific Tourism Strength

The presence of Guam Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Philippine Department of Tourism in the 70-year recognition group shows the lasting role of Pacific and island destinations in the PATA network. These destinations depend heavily on air access, source-market confidence, cultural storytelling and regional partnerships. Their long relationship with PATA reflects the need for continuous cooperation in tourism promotion and policy dialogue. Island destinations often face unique challenges, including distance, climate exposure, capacity management and dependence on international arrivals. Their longevity within PATA shows how association membership can support visibility and resilience across decades of change.

Sixty-Year Members Bring Scale Across Asia Pacific Tourism

The 60-year membership group was broad and influential. It included Global Tour, Ltd., Hong Kong Tourism Board, Japan Association of Travel Agents, Korea Tourism Organization, Macao Government Tourism Office, Nepal Tourism Board, Smith’s Motor Boat Service, Inc., Taiwan Tourism Administration, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism Malaysia, World Express Group and Yeti Travels Pvt. Ltd. The group also included organisations unable to attend, such as Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, DTH Destination Thailand Limited, Hecny Transportation Ltd., Okinawa Tourist Service, Inc., Orient Express Private Ltd., Soaltee Hotel Limited and Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd.

Tourism Boards and Airlines Reinforce Regional Connectivity

The 60-year honourees show how travel growth depends on many parts working together. Tourism boards create destination appeal. Airlines move people across borders. Travel agents convert interest into bookings. Hotels and ground operators turn arrivals into experiences. The presence of Thai Airways International, Korea Tourism Organization, Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Macao Government Tourism Office and Taiwan Tourism Administration shows how state-backed destination promotion and commercial travel networks have grown side by side. This mix has been vital to the rise of Asia Pacific as one of the world’s most dynamic tourism regions.

Fifty-Year Members Reflect the Next Layer of Industry Leadership

PATA also recognised organisations with more than 50 years of membership. These included All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Dusit Thani Public Company Limited, PACTO DMC Indonesia, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority and Tourism Solomons. Other long-standing members noted in this category included India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., Messe Berlin / ITB Berlin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Pakistan and PanTravel.

This group reflects the expansion of travel cooperation during a period when aviation, hospitality, destination management and international trade events became more central to tourism growth across Asia and the Pacific.

Long-Term Membership Matters in a Fast-Changing Travel World

The recognition matters because tourism changes quickly. Markets rise and fall. Airlines adjust routes. Travellers shift habits. Destinations face pressure from climate, overtourism, labour shortages, digital disruption and geopolitical uncertainty. In this environment, long-term membership provides stability. It gives organisations a shared forum for cooperation, learning and advocacy.

For PATA, the honoured members represent more than historical names. They represent trust built over decades. Their membership shows that tourism development is not built only by campaigns or seasonal demand. It is built through steady partnerships, shared standards, regional networks and repeated commitment to destination progress.

Gyeongju and Pohang Add Cultural and Industrial Weight to the Summit

The dual-host setting also strengthened the message of the summit. Gyeongju is known for its deep cultural and historical heritage, while Pohang is recognised as an important industrial city in Korea. Together, they gave PAS 2026 a strong setting for discussions about heritage tourism, innovation and destination resilience.

Gyeongju’s historic identity helped frame the importance of legacy. Pohang’s modern economic profile added a forward-looking dimension. This combination matched the summit’s wider direction. It showed that tourism growth needs both memory and transformation. Destinations must protect culture while adapting to new technology, sustainability demands and market expectations.

The Awards Support PATA’s Responsible Tourism Direction

The member recognition also connected with PATA’s wider focus on responsible and sustainable tourism. Many of the honoured organisations represent destinations where tourism must balance growth with community benefit, environmental protection and cultural respect. This is especially important in island states, heritage cities, mountain destinations and urban tourism hubs.

Long-term members have seen tourism move through different phases, from early promotion to modern sustainability debates. Their experience gives the sector valuable perspective. By honouring them during the 75th anniversary, PATA placed responsibility and continuity at the centre of its future-facing tourism message.

Asia Pacific Tourism Gains Strength from Shared Institutions

The awards showed that Asia Pacific tourism is not only driven by visitor numbers. It is also shaped by institutions that stay connected over time. The honoured members include national tourism organisations, destination boards, airlines, travel agencies, hospitality companies and private operators.

Each plays a different role. Together, they form a regional tourism system. Their long association with PATA has helped maintain dialogue across borders and sectors. This becomes especially valuable when the industry faces disruption. In difficult periods, trusted networks can help destinations share knowledge, rebuild confidence and support coordinated recovery.

PATA’s Legacy Recognition Looks Beyond the Past

PATA’s longstanding member awards were not just about looking backward. They were about making an important point about the future. The members honored at PAS 2026 contributed to creating the current tourism landscape in the region. And their knowledge is essential for further development based on AI, ESG principles, conservation of heritage, skill training and robust visitor economies.

As the nature of travel evolves, the importance of partnership increases even more. By honoring the members who have been loyal to PATA for 50, 60 and even 70 years, the organization has stressed the importance of loyalty and partnership for sustainability.

Image Source: PATA