Palau hosted the Tri-annual Meeting of the Pacific Asia Travel Association-Micronesia Chapter from Dec. 2 to 4 with close to 40 of its members representing national and state tourism, travel trade and businesses in the region and the meeting concluded with the clam planting in one of the states of the nation.
On Dec. 3, PATA Micronesia chair Stephanie Nakamura welcomed the members of the event and that the gathering was an opportunity for the members to share knowledge on best tourism practices among the region.
PATA Micronesia is a regional group of government and private companies involved in tourism and hospitality industry in the western Pacific.
Its goals include educating and training employees of member organizations to serve visitors more effectively, and build marketing programs that will attract more visitors to the islands.
During the event, the committee meetings were held ll on the first day of meeting.
Guest Speaker Austin Shelton III of the University of Guam said during the general membership meeting lauded Palau as a role model of sustainable tourism practices.
Shelton is serving as the Director of the UOG Center of Island Sustainability and UOG Grant and said leading initiatives to transform island communities like Guam and FSM towards a "sustainable future."
He said among the initiatives is to reach out to other islands to ramp up the sustainability movement, also taking inspiration from Palau's Micronesian Challenge.
To further showcase Palau's pristine environment, the members took a field trip to the nation's Rock islands.
On the final day, participants help a clam planting in Melekeok, helping sustain natural resources through community involvement.
PATA is a membership association of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry.
PATA is an internationally known organization and has several PATA chapters worldwide.
The association provides training, grants for new and emerging destinations and has access to research and innovative events to its member organizations.
Nakamura said this kind of networking is an opportunity for "Palau to get insights of how to promote the island nation and develop the tourism assets of other states."
She said in turn Palau can also impart knowledge on how it protects its resources, especially the the nation being a frontrunner and global leaders on environmental initiatives such as Palau pledge and the marine sanctuary.
