PATA India Chapter: The story so far

The story began more than 50 years ago when the India Chapter of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) was formed by luminaries of the travel trade who helped determine policies and ensured a healthy interaction within the trade and with government bodies in order to assist the industry to enhance its products and services. Currently, S Banerjee, Secretary Tourism, Government of India is at the helm guiding the India Chapter in his capacity as Chairman.Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is the only travel trade body that has as its members – airlines, hoteliers, travel agents, tour operators, cruise operators, travel institutes etc. The strength of this Association is the high profile and well-attended annual events and its networking opportunities.

The first PATA Annual Conference in India was held at New Delhi in 1966. Thereafter India hosted the international annual PATA Travel Mart in New Delhi in 1993 and two annual conferences in 1993 and 2002. The PATA Travel Mart 2008 being held in Hyderabad this week (16th to 19th) is the first time that a PATA event in India is being held outside New Delhi.