The inaugural Pacific Tourism Insights Conference (PTIC), which takes place in Port Vila, Vanuatu on Wednesday, October 25, is set to address key opportunities and challenges facing the region’s public and private sector tourism organisations.

Planned and implemented by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in partnership with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) the conference opens with a keynote address on ‘cathedral thinking’ from Rick Antonson, author and former CEO of Tourism Vancouver.

The conference programme, divided into five sessions, also features presentations from international tourism experts and thought leaders including Dr Mathew McDougal (CEO – Digital Jungle); Sarah Mathews (PATA chairperson and head of destination marketing APAC at TripAdvisor); Stewart Moore (CEO – EarthCheck); and Carolyn Childs (director – MyTravelResearch.com) who will be making her presentation via video. The conference is being supported by BBC World News with both panel discussions being moderated by international correspondent Phil Mercer.

PATA’s regional director – Pacific Chris Flynn, the driving force behind the conference, said, “We are looking forward to welcoming the region’s tourism ministers to what we believe will be a ground-breaking event for Vanuatu and the South Pacific Tourism Organisation. It was the amazing vision of tourism industry professionals working in the Pacific nearly 70 years ago that led to the formation of PATA. This inaugural conference reflects our determination to continue to support the region’s tourism industry in concert with our regional partners.”

Delegates will hear welcome remarks from both SPTO chairwoman Sonja Hunter and PATA chairperson Sarah Matthews, followed by an opening address from the Hon. Joe Yhakowaie Natuman, Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism (pictured above).