PATA has marked World Tourism Day 2009 by renewing its commitment to sustainable tourism and corporate social responsibility. The PATA Board of Directors has adopted unanimously a ‘Charter of Sustainability and Social Responsibility’.

The Charter states that ‘PATA will by example and facilitation provide leadership towards the achievement of environmental and economic sustainability, cultural preservation and social responsibility by the tourism and travel industry in Asia Pacific’. The Charter received approval during a PATA Board of Directors meeting in Hangzhou, China (PRC) on September 27th.

The new Charter also pledges to ‘advance the role of tourism in poverty alleviation, social cohesion, cultural awareness and preservation of human dignity’. PATA is now seeking support for the charter from a broad range of travel and tourism organisations – including NTOs. PATA is also looking to build new partnerships to ensure effective implementation of social responsibility programmes.