With the current global situation having a severe impact on the tourism sector, PATA has been reaching out to people who work directly and indirectly in this sector. This is particularly on the informal workers who are often ignored in the tourism supply chain. Find out more about the informal workers here and how they are affected.

Due to intensified health protocols and measures and a clear communication system, China was one of the first countries to come out of lockdowns to reopen businesses. Surging number of domestic travels have been observed during the Easter and Qingming Festival; many experts believe that May 1 the Golden Week will be more exemplary of the destination’s domestic tourism market rebound.

This article presents research carried out between December 2020 and March 2021 by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and focusright, a Swiss consultancy that works with companies to embed responsible business practices throughout their supply chains. Supported by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Switzerland, the project examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on informal workers in the Thai tourism value chain.

This report analysed emerging trends within travellers related to health and hygiene. The results indicated that health and hygiene affects booking decisions greatly; consequently, changing the game in the tourism industry.

PATA explores “The Future of Tourism” in a series of interviews through multiple, interrelated sustainability challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis; aiming to provide advocacy, research and publications to provide insights on the future of sustainable tourism.

While the road to recovery will be long and arduous, I am confident we will eventually travel again. To get there, beyond just close cooperation between the public and private sectors, we will need to be innovative, creative, and resourceful. If we do that, I am sure that we will rebuild a more robust and more responsible travel and tourism industry.

In line with MyBhutan’s foundational interest to support sustainable and socially responsible tourism initiatives, we joined PATA in order to broaden our ever-expanding knowledge base on better sustainability practices.

We have now reached a phase where everyone is realising that a vaccine may be months if not years away and we must learn to adapt to what it has come to be referred to as the “new normal”.

How has life changed for you in the last month? A PATA Intern reflects on the changes at work, and in her own life, during the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic.