Fernandes to Speak at the Next PATA Youth Symposium

30th Aug 2017

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes is set to appear at the next PATA Youth Symposium in Macao, SAR, where he will give a speech. The symposium will be organized by the Association’s Human Capital Development Committee, on 13^th September and will be hosted by the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) under the theme “Enabling Travel and Managing a Complex Future”.

Fernandes said:

These are exciting times for air travel in Asia. The low-cost revolution has made flying affordable and we are seeing more and more people fly for the first time. This creates opportunities as well as challenges for the region’s travel and tourism industry. What role will automation play? How do we ensure sustainable development of tourism? What are the constraints we will face as traffic grows? Are there enough low-cost terminals to cater for the fastest growing aviation segment? The PATA Youth Symposium is a great forum to discuss these questions and more, and I look forward to hearing what students have to share on the future of travel in Asia.

PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy said:

The PATA Youth Symposium is a cornerstone of our commitment to the next generation of young tourism professionals. We are honoured that Tony Fernandes has agreed to address tomorrow’s tourism industry leaders. The Association has placed special focus upon the Young Tourism Professional this year and the PATA Youth Symposium highlights our continued dedication to enhancing the knowledge and skills of students seeking careers in travel and tourism.

President of IFT Dr. Fanny Vong said:

As a long-term member of PATA, IFT is excited to host the 2017 PATA Youth Symposium. It serves as a platform for students to learn from the experiences and success stories of industry entrepreneurs and professionals. It helps students to keep abreast of changing trends and practices, and it provides important guidance about career opportunities. The field visit to the Macao Museum will introduce the rich culture and history of the city, followed by a bus tour to learn about Macao’s tourism development and challenges.

Besides Mr. Fernandes, Dr. Mario Hardy and Dr. Fanny Vong, the other confirmed speakers at the symposium include PATA Vice Chairman and Dean, Faculty of Global and Community Studies at Capilano University Dr. Chris Bottrill, Ms. J.C. Wong, Youth Tourism Professional Ambassador at PATA and Ms. Rika Jean-Francois, Commissioner ITB Corporate Social Responsibility, Competence Centre Travel & Logistics.