New Zealanders have been recognised at the 50th Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Conference, in Malaysia.
Jason’s Travel Media Chief Executive and Publisher John Sandford was installed as PATA’s chairman, tourism consultant
Rodney Davies was made a Life Member of PATA and former Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) Chief Executive
Glenys Coughlan was awarded a PATA Merit Award.
PATA is the largest organisation of its kind in the world, incorporating 1500 of the world’s travel leaders. It is
celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
New Zealand has played a key role in the organisation, and this is reflected in the installation of John Sandford as
PATA’s chairman. Mr Sandford was formally elected as Chairman at PATA’s 49th Annual Conference in Hong Kong last year.
Mr Sandford runs Jason’s Travel Media, an Auckland based travel and tourist information company. He is also Deputy
Chairman of the TIA.
In addressing delegates, Mr Sandford committed himself to setting up a ‘Vision PATA’ taskforce, to identify key issues
and opportunities facing the travel and tourism sector in the Asia-Pacific region for the next quarter century, and
ensure PATA is at the forefront of global sustainability and responsibility in tourism.
“In New Zealand, we have been working together on a unique, private and public sector driven, 10 year strategic plan for
tourism. If we can do it in New Zealand, then the massive talent available to PATA means ‘Vision PATA’ is
a “can do“ project,” Mr Sandford said. …/more
Rodney Davies pioneered environmental and social impact assessment techniques for tourism developments in sensitive
locations. He has been involved in many tourism development projects throughout New Zealand, Australia, the South
Pacific and Asia.
Mr Davies has been a member of PATA since 1970 and was a New Zealand representative to the PATA Development Authority.
He helped set up the PATA Foundation, an independent charity which funds educational environmental protection and
heritage conservation projects related to the industry. Mr Davies has been an active member of the New Zealand Chapter
of PATA and has been chairman of New Zealand PATA as well as the Auckland chapter. He is now a trustee of the PATA New
Zealand Foundation.
Mr Davies is father of Sky City Managing Director and TIA Chairman Evan Davies.
Outgoing TIA Chief Executive Glenys Coughlan received an Award of Merit from PATA, reflecting her four years of
leadership in New Zealand tourism as Chief Executive of TIA, and for her years of involvement with PATA which she joined
while working at Air New Zealand.
PATA’s 50th Annual Conference is being held in Kuala Lumpur from April 8 – 12. It was opened by Malaysian Prime Minister
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who signalled the need for the tourism industry to focus on sustainable development.
New Zealand has hosted PATA’s Annual Conference five times, in Christchurch in 1955 and 1960 and in Auckland in 1970,
1985 and 1995. The Tourism Industry Association is the secretariat for the New Zealand Chapter of PATA.
ENDS