The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) officially opened the PATA Destination Marketing Forum (PDMF) today, 2nd December, with an immersive tour of host city Chiang Rai and its surrounding environs for delegates.
Chiang Rai is a perfect venue for PDMF 2025 as it is a renowned heritage destination that offers travellers a different look at one 🕜 f the world's most popular countries, one that deeply immerses visitors into the richness of Thai heritage.
Delegates were divided into three groups, each of which is currently experiencing different aspects of Northern Thailand and the nuances of Lanna culture.
Into the Golden Triangle
The group which Travel Daily Media was part of is currently on the historical trail, starting with an introduction at the Golden Triangle, the border zone of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.
This was a perfect venue for the event as it symbolises international cooperation through shared heritage, spiritual beliefs, and historical intersections.
Likewise, the current state of the Golden Triangle is far removed from the notoriety it had in the late 20th century as a hub for drug-related criminality.
Today, thanks to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Royal Project initiative, the opium poppies that fuelled the troubles gave given way to safer, more commercially viable crops like coffee, tea, and macadamia nuts
That said, the Golden Triangle serves as a model for nations seeking to transform problematic regions into meaningful destinations with lasting commercial appeal.
The temple route
At the same time, delegates caught a glimpse of how Thailand has worked tirelessly to preserve its religious heritage through the temple city of Chiang Saan.
Chiang Saen has been a Buddhist epicentre for worship for more than seven hundred years, and the city's strategic location at the crossroads have made it a cultural hub that has infused Chinese, Burmese, and Laotian influences into the culture of Northern Thailand.
Today, cultural workshops demonstrations, and performances at different temples throughout the city keep its importance as a historic centre alive, inspiring others to take a closer look at their own heritage sites to help them come alive and teach valuable lessons for generations to come.
