Bangkok--31 Oct--PATA
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has partnered with the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) and its subsidiary arm EC3 Global in the drive to encourage sustainable tourism and increase awareness about climate change.
A partnership agreement between the organisations will encourage tourism operators to adopt practical solutions to meet the twin challenges of sustainability and climate change.
The partnership is designed to provide PATA and its members with guidance and access to the STCRC's extensive research and range of sustainable practice tools. It will create a platform from which to raise awareness and share 'Best Practice' principles with PATA members and Chapters regarding Corporate Social Responsibility options. Discounted offers to PATA Members for undertaking EC3 Global benchmarking and certification programmes will be rolled out in the coming months.
"As an industry targeted as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions it is critical that PATA and its members adopt - and are able to demonstrate - sustainable tourism practices and policy," said Michael Yates, PATA's Vice President - Operations. "This partnership enables PATA to advance its leadership approach to addressing the issues and practicalities of sustainable tourism in the Asia-Pacific region."
PATA will also use EC3's management tools and services to minimise the environmental impact of key PATA events and to reinforce PATA's commitment to leading by example. In January 2008 PATA worked with EC3 Global, managers of the Green Globe brand in Asia Pacific, to use its science and systems to help reduce significantly the carbon footprint of key elements of the successful PATA CEO Challenge. Green Globe is the leading international environmental benchmarking and certification programme for the travel and tourism industry.
"Communicating the environmental message and driving change in such a diverse industry as tourism is a challenge. This partnership will serve as a channel for advocating the principles and practical options for tourism operators to reduce their environmental footprint and will underpin industry efforts to champion sustainability," said Stewart Moore, CEO of EC3 Global.
Media enquiries:
Kerry Lorimer, Splash Communications, [email protected]
Tel: +61 (0) 411 550 329
or
Dale Lawrence,
Director - Corporate Communications
PATA
[email protected]
Tel: +66 2 658 2000
Online pressroom: www.PATA.org/news
ABOUT STCRC
Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) was established under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres program in 1997, and has grown to be the largest dedicated tourism research organisation in the world. STCRC was formed to underpin the development of a dynamic, internationally competitive, and sustainable Australian tourism industry.
In consultation with a broad cross section of stakeholders, STCRC undertakes research into the strategic challenges facing Australian tourism and produces reports, information, tools and products to improve business practices and inform policy development. More on www.crctourism.com.au
STCRC owns EC3 Global, a leading International Environmental and Tourism Advisory Group, offering sustainable tourism advice for organisations and destinations. EC3 Global has exclusive management rights for the Green Globe brand within the Asia Pacific Region.
More on www.ec3global.com
ABOUT PATA
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA's private and public sector members it enhances the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region. PATA provides leadership to the collective efforts of nearly 100 government, state and city tourism bodies, international airlines, cruise lines and many hundreds of travel industry companies. PATA's Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) offers unrivalled data and insights including Asia Pacific inbound and outbound statistics, analyses and forecasts and in-depth reports on strategic tourism markets. For more information, please visit www.PATA.org .