PATA turns a little greener
SINGAPORE – The Pacific Asia Travel Association has launched the PATA Sustainability Index, in partnership with Sustainability Intelligence UK, the organisation that operates the Green Globe Index programme globally.
The programme will help the industry to measure and learn about sustainability from a cost savings perspective, at the same time reducing its carbon footprint.
Index participants are included in a major international internet marketing booking referral programme, further details of which will be available shortly.
Initially, the Guide to Sustainable Tourism website will feature the work of 15 PATA members within the Asia Pacific region and cover a variety of projects including hotels, dive sites and trekking operations.
Case studies include details of why the companies concerned opted for a more responsible approach, and what work took place.
Results in every case show tangible benefits for tourists, the industry and the environment.
Shortly, PATA will be going live with the first of these online forums.
“We know there are many more companies in different branches of the travel and tourism industry that would like to share their experiences and success stories in the area of CSR and especially sustainable development and sustainable tourism, and we would be happy to add them to the forum and the website,” said Anthony Wong, secretary/treasurer, PATA.
He added: “Our PATA members want to be green but they don’t know how to go about it.
“Our challenge is to show operators that they can save costs by being green and how they can achieve their aims inexpensively, step by step.”
Full details of qualifying projects and how to submit them are included on the site.
This Best Practice Guide to Sustainable Tourism is the first of what PATA expects will be a series of partnerships to ensure effective implementation of social responsibility programmes.
PATA’s partners are GTZ and SNV (Asia) on the research side and 15 of its industry members who supplied knowledge through their own experiences.
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026