PATA Announces Newly Elected Board Members at Annual Summit 2026

Picture: Welcoming the newly elected PATA Board members at the PATA Annual General Meeting on May 12 during the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Gyeongju, Korea (ROK).

From left to right, Fabrizio Orlando, Global Industry Relations Director, TripAdvisor; Mr Thomas Wan, Chairman, PATA Hong Kong School of Hotel & Tourism Management (SHTM) Student Chapter; Shuichi Kameyama, Lead Consultant, JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co.; Jonathan Low, Managing Director, Global Success Learning Academy Sdn Bhd; Dr Duangthida Nunthapirat, Dean, International Programs, Bangkok University; Henry Oh, Chairman, PATA; Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA; Dr Paithoon Monpanthong, GSTM Program Director, Graduate School of Tourism Management, National Institute of Development Administration; Justin Ong, Regional Manager, APAC; Hotelbeds Pte. Ltd.; Dmitri Cooray, Managing Director, Jetwing Hotels Ltd., and Kamilia Hani Abdul Halim, Director, Tourism Malaysia Seoul representing Datuk Musa Yusof, Deputy Director General (Promotion), Tourism Malaysia.

New Board Members not present include Fazal Bahardeen, CEO, Crescentrating Pte Ltd.; Jason Wang, Chief Operating Officer, Global Tourism Economy Research Centre; Mike Stewart, Regional General Manager SEA, Intrepid Travel; Yeji Cho, PATA Face of the Future 2025 and Assistant Manager, Korea Tourism Organization; Khem Lakai, Chairman, PATA Nepal Chapter; Dr Supawan Teerarat, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and Dr Kumi Kato, Professor, Wakayama University.

BANGKOK, May 18, 2026 - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announced the ratification of newly elected Board members during the PATA Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, May 12, during the PATA Annual Summit 2026 in Gyeongju, Korea (ROK).

The newly elected Board members will serve alongside the Association's ongoing Board members, further strengthening PATA's collective expertise and representation across the travel and tourism industry, including the public and private sectors, academia, chapters, and youth representatives from across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

The announcement follows the unveiling of PATA's new Chair and Executive Board line-up earlier during the Summit.

"PATA's strength lies in the diversity, experience, and commitment of its members," said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. "We are pleased to welcome these newly elected Board members and look forward to working together as we continue to advance a more responsible, inclusive, and resilient tourism industry."

Newly Elected PATA Board Members

• Bangkok University, represented by Ms Duangthida Nunthapirat, Dean, International Programs

• Crescentrating Pte Ltd., represented by Mr Fazal Bahardeen, CEO

• Global Success Learning Academy Sdn Bhd, represented by Mr Jonathan Low, Managing Director

• Global Tourism Economy Research Centre, represented by Mr Jason Wang, Chief Operating Officer

• Graduate School of Tourism Management, National Institute of Development Administration, represented by Dr Paithoon Monpanthong, GSTM Program Director

• Hotelbeds Pte. Ltd., represented by Mr Justin Ong, Regional Manager, APAC

• Intrepid Travel, represented by Mr Mike Stewart, Regional General Manager SEA

• Jetwing Hotels Ltd., represented by Mr Dmitri Cooray, Managing Director

• PATA Face of the Future 2025, Ms Yeji Cho, Assistant Manager, Korea Tourism Organization

• PATA Hong Kong School of Hotel & Tourism Management (SHTM) Student Chapter, represented by Mr Thomas Wan, Chairman

• PATA Nepal Chapter, represented by Mr Khem Lakai, Chairman

• Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), represented by Dr Supawan Teerarat, President

• Tourism Malaysia, represented by Datuk Musa Yusof, Deputy Director General (Promotion)

• TripAdvisor, represented by Mr Fabrizio Orlando, Global Industry Relations Director

• Wakayama University, represented by Dr Kumi Kato, Professor

Ongoing PATA Board Members

The newly elected members will join the following ongoing Board members:

• Booking.com B.V., represented by Mr Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC

• Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, represented by Mr Dileep Mudadeniya, Senior Vice President Global Alliances & Partnerships

• Dusit Thani College, represented by Mr Simon Lloyd, Dean - Hospitality Management and Business Administration

• Guilin Tang Dynasty Tours Co., Ltd, represented by Mr Michael Zhou, President

• Hong Kong Tourism Board, represented by Mr Anthony Lau, Executive Director

• Korea Tourism Organization, represented by Mr Sunghyeuck Park, President

• Macau International Airport Company Ltd., represented by Mr Eric Fong, Marketing Director

• Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation, represented by Mr Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director

• Pacific Leisure (Thailand) Limited, represented by Ms Watana Limnararat, Managing Director

• PATA Hawaii Chapter, represented by Ms Jennifer Chun, Chairperson

• Sanya Tourism Board, represented by Mr Hao Zhang, Vice Director

• Saudi Tourism Authority, represented by Mr Alhasan Aldabbagh, President - APAC Market

• Soaltee Hotel Limited, represented by Mr Dinesh Bista, Executive Chairman

• Taiwan Tourism Administration, represented by Ms Yu-Hsiu Chen, Director-General

• Tourism Authority of Thailand, represented by Ms Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor

• Venture Travel (Temple Tigers) Nepal, represented by Mr Brajesh Mishra, Director

The Board plays a key role in guiding the Association's strategic direction and supporting its mission to share knowledge, enable networking, and protect tourism economy assets through innovation, collaboration, and adaptability.

For more information about the Association's new leadership line-up, please visit the Association's recent announcement on the new Chair and Executive Board at the following link: www.pata.org/press-release/pata-unveils-new-chair-and-executive-board-line-up-at-korea-summit