The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) formally opened the doors to the 2026 edition of its PATA Travel Mart today, 19th August, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in Kuching, Malaysia.
This year’s event welcomes more than 1,100 delegates from 48 nations, something that PATA chief executive Noor Ahmad Hamid referred to as a huge number for an industry-centric show.
According to Hamid: “[This year,] we have more than 220 buyers, representing about 215 companies from 29 source markets, including some of the big markets and some of the small markets.”
As precursors to the exhibition proper, PATA held its Youth Symposium on Monday, 17th August; and the Knowledge Forum yesterday, 18th August.
Bringing the world to Kuching
For PATA chair Henry Oh, this year’s Travel Mart brings together different generations and perspectives from various areas of global travel and tourism.
This is a particularly important observation in light of PATA’s 75th anniversary this year.
Oh said: “The heart of the PTM’s connection is about bringing buyers and sellers together, opening the door to new markets, developing businesses related, and creating opportunities that can continue long after we leave Kuching.”
The chairman concluded the opening ceremony by pointing out how PATA continues to connect the tourism community throughout the Asia Pacific, a goal which has remained relevant for more than seven decades.
