Andrew Nihopara is the 2009 PATA Face of the Future. Andrew, Marketing Manager for the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, based in Suva, Fiji Islands, leads a team that embraces 13 national tourism offices in the South Pacific.

His role includes managing joint marketing efforts for 15 Pacific destinations at many global events -including ITB Berlin and the PATA Travel Mart. In 2007 he developed and launched a South Pacific specialist online training programme that attracted enrolment applications from 260 travel consultants around the world.

Last year Andrew launched a series of comprehensive Market Access Guides that provide practical advice on how to penetrate key tourism markets. His current duties include managing the development of the 8,100 square metre Pacific Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. He is also working closely with industry consultants on the development of regional marketing strategies and direction for the region and for individual member countries. Andrew is a native of the Solomon Islands and previously worked for the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau. He graduated from Massey University in New Zealand.

Two further awards are announced by the Pacific Asia Travel Association. The Spirit of PATA Award goes to the Association's Thailand Chapter. Members of this Chapter have worked tirelessly to support, guide and offer counsel to the travel and tourism industry over the past 12 months in the face of numerous domestic and international challenges.  The PATA Award of Excellence goes to the Sweden Chapter. This Chapter has been extremely active in arranging educational tours to the Asia Pacific region and staging road shows across Scandinavia and Germany.

All three awards will be presented in Macau next month as part of the PATA Annual Meeting on April 17-21st.