Speaker

Virtual PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2021

Paul Pruangkarn

DIRECTORCOMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL AFFAIRS , PACIFIC ASIA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION

Paul Pruangkarn is the Director – Communications & External Affairs at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.

In his role, he oversees day-to-day operations of all communications and public relations, and serves as the senior spokesperson for the Association. Paul works to enhance PATA’s public image through various media outlets and maintains the Association’s media partnerships with such organisations as BBC World News, Skift, TTG Asia, and Travel Weekly Group. He has also spoken regularly at conferences on behalf of PATA, as well as facilitated and emceed many events organised by the Association. In addition to his communications role, Paul also manages the PATA’s public sector relationships with governments across the region, ensuring alignment of the Association’s public policy positions together with its member organisations.

Paul hails from New York and has spent over a decade living in Thailand. Prior to PATA, Paul worked at an Internet start-up in Bangkok as the Senior Business Development Manager, overseeing its daily operations and B2B hotels sales partnerships, and as the Sub-Editor at Radio Thailand English Language News, where he also worked as an on-air personality. Before moving to Thailand, he spent five years as the Newsroom Supervisor at Business Wire, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, working with clients across the US, London, Paris, Berlin and Tokyo.

He has also worked for such companies as Reuters, British Petroleum, and Traditional Home Magazine. Paul received his Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Classics with a concentration in Mediterranean Art and Archaeology from the University at Buffalo in New York

Welcome to Virtual PATA Destination Marketing Forum 2021

25 November 2021 | 09:00 - 09:05 | Conference Room

Destination Case Studies on Sustainability from Asia Pacific

25 November 2021 | 09:55 - 10:55 | Conference Room

Despite previous disruptions and fluctuations, the travel industry has always remained resilient, having demonstrated steady growth across the sector. However as we look towards a post-pandemic future, the industry must adapt, evolve and reprioritize in order to revitalise and rebuild a more responsible and sustainable industry. This session will showcase three destinations and their work towards sustainability and social responsibility, and look to examine what aspects of sustainability must the industry improve upon to create a better future for people, planet and profit.

Wrap up of Day 1

25 November 2021 | 15:30 - 15:35 | Conference Room

Announcement of the Best Virtual Tour by Popular Vote

26 November 2021 | 15:00 - 15:10 | Conference Room

All delegates are invited to vote for the best virtual tour via Slido that is available on the virtual platform. GRAND PRIZE is waiting for YOU!

Wrap up

26 November 2021 | 15:20 - 15:25 | Conference Room

Experiences that Inspire - The Rainforest World Music Festival

26 November 2021 | 09:00 - 09:30 | Conference Room

The Rainforest World Music Festival is an annual three-day music festival celebrating the diversity of world music, held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, with daytime music workshops, cultural displays, craft displays, food stalls, and main-stage evening concerts. The festival features a wide range of performances from traditional music, to world fusion and contemporary world music. During this session, we will sit down with Datu Aloysius Dris, one of the pioneers of the Rainforest World Music Festival, and Robert Basiuk, who helped co-found the event, to learn more about the founding of one of the most awaited musical festivals that Sarawak proudly hosts each year.