The Pacific Asia Travel Association has expanded its leadership team with five new appointments to the Executive Board, strengthening representation across the Asia Pacific region. The announcement, made by the association, adds members from both the public and private sectors to the board. This move brings the group to a fully constituted state after a period of vacancies.
Five individuals have been added to the roster. Among the new appointees is Jennifer Chun, who takes on the role of Secretary/Treasurer. Chun currently works as the Director of Tourism Research for the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Yang Li joins the board as an Executive Board Member, bringing experience from his role at Booking.com in Singapore. Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO of the Visit Maldives Corporation, and Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC for the Saudi Tourism Authority, were also elected. Suman Pandey, Group Chairman of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure, was appointed as a non-voting member.
The new members bring diverse backgrounds to the table. Chun will focus on tourism research and destination development. Li offers insight into the digital travel sector and technology. Shiuree represents island tourism economies, specifically from the Maldives. Aldabbagh adds experience in destination development and market engagement. Pandey provides continuity in leadership and industry insight, particularly regarding adventure tourism.
With these additions, the Executive Board is now complete. The current members include Henry Oh, Chairman of Global Tour Ltd; Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador for Centara Hotels & Resorts; Jackson Pek of Amadeus; Maria Paz Alberto of Ark Travel Express; Siripakorn Cheawsamoot of DASTA; and Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor of the Sarawak Tourism Board. The group aims to support strategic priorities and advance the mission of sharing knowledge and protecting tourism assets across the Pacific Asia region.
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One of the new members, Alhasan Aldabbagh, is listed as a non-voting Executive Board Member. The board structure allows for continued industry insight without altering the voting composition. This arrangement helps maintain a balance between public and private sector interests while streamlining decision-making processes. The collective experience of the group is intended to guide PATA through the changing tourism environment.
Industry observers note that the inclusion of figures from both destination marketing organizations and private travel technology firms creates a broader platform for addressing the complex challenges facing the region. By combining perspectives from island economies like the Maldives with digital giants like Booking.com, the board may be better positioned to address the varied needs of tourism stakeholders across different economic models.
PATA Chairman Henry Oh expressed satisfaction with the appointments. He stated that the association looks forward to drawing on the diverse experience and knowledge of the new members. The focus remains on supporting collaboration across membership and the wider tourism industry.
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