Bangkok (Thailand) – September 25, 2015 (travelindex.com) – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce that the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2016 (AT&RTCM 2016) will take place from February 17 to 19, 2016 in the historic northern Thai city of Chiang Rai under the theme “Creating Experiences, Sharing Opportunities”.

The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2016 is a three-day professional event with conference and travel market components. It brings together tourism professionals from the adventure travel and responsible tourism sectors to discuss new opportunities for promoting environmental protection and social sustainability within the industry. The event unites representatives from the public and private sectors to discuss the challenges facing the adventure travel, responsible, and sustainable tourism industry.

PATA is pleased to present the historic northern Thai city of Chiang Rai. “The city has much to offer travelers who want to experience natural beauty, local culture, and a rich heritage,” said PATA CEO Mario Hardy. “The selection of this destination underscores the growing importance of distributing tourists among emerging destinations—a theme the association actively promotes through activities such as the PATA CEO Challenge 2015. This event provides travel industry professionals with the perfect opportunity to learn firsthand about this rapidly growing destination.”

Sugree Sithivanich, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), added: “The TAT promotes tourism that protects the environment and contributes to social and cultural development. This aligns with the philosophy of balanced tourism, which ensures that the economic benefits of tourism go hand in hand with the preservation of the environment and culture. Therefore, Thailand is delighted to host the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2016 (AT&RTCM 2016).”

We also felt that Chiang Rai would be the perfect venue for the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference & Mart 2016. Not only is the city a beautiful destination in its own right, but it also lies in the heart of the Golden Triangle, where the Thai border meets the borders of Myanmar and Laos. Visitors can thus experience three destinations in one package, visiting all three for the price of one.

Chiang Rai, the former capital of the powerful Lanna Kingdom, is a fascinating province brimming with cultural and natural treasures. Located in northern Thailand, it offers breathtaking natural beauty where tourists can escape mass tourism, visit remote hill tribes, and observe exotic wildlife.

Chiang Rai now rivals Chiang Mai for the title of a major tourist destination and is rapidly developing into a popular travel destination. This paradise for travelers boasts a wealth of natural beauty and historical sites. Attractions range from the ruins of ancient settlements and Buddhist shrines to breathtaking mountain landscapes and hill tribe villages. Those wishing to experience the unspoiled nature of the landscape can participate in jungle treks or mountain hikes. Visitors also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the local population and get to know the various hill tribes.

Chiang Rai is also a center for community development projects that help rural villagers develop their attractions without negatively impacting their natural and cultural resources.

AT&RTCM 2016 offers suppliers and buyers from the adventure and sustainable tourism industry an outstanding platform to arrange effective business meetings through its proven system of pre-arranged appointments. It is an excellent opportunity to gain new experiences and network with tourism professionals from around the world.

Further information or the opportunity to register for the event as a seller, buyer, conference participant or media representative can be found at www.PATA.org/ATRTCM-2016 or by email to [email protected].

About PATA: Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a non-profit organization internationally recognized for its commitment to the responsible development of travel and tourism in, from, and within the Asia-Pacific region. The association provides its member organizations—including 87 state, regional, and municipal tourism authorities; 25 international airlines, airports, and cruise lines; 59 educational institutions; and hundreds of travel industry businesses in Asia-Pacific and beyond—with coordinated advocacy, in-depth research, and innovative events. Thousands of travel professionals are organized in PATA's 43 local offices worldwide. These offices provide training and business development events for the travel industry. Their grassroots engagement forms the basis for PATA's membership in the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC), which also includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO, and WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unique data, forecasts, and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre directly to members' desktop computers and mobile devices worldwide. PATA has been headquartered in Bangkok since 1998 and also maintains official offices or representative offices in Beijing, Sydney, and London. Visit www.PATA.org.

Media contact: PATA Paul Pruangkarn Manager – Communications Bangkok, Thailand Tel.: +66 2 658 2000 E-mail: [email protected]