THE Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) launched its annual Travel Mart this year in Bangkok on September 22 with astounding success.

The event drew 720 seller delegates and 345 global buyers from 45 countries, including 13 exhibitors from Myanmar.

“It is a busy day,” said U Khin Zaw, the chairman of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA), on the opening day of the three-day event.

Representatives from Myanmar Airways International and Bangkok Airways, the latter of which recently began offering direct flights to Yangon, were among those seen at the show.

The number of participants represented a 70 per cent increase over the total delegates who attended PATA Travel Mart 2003 in Singapore. And the show – held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center – took up 3571 square metres of net booth space, 54 per cent more than last year.

PATA’s president and CEO, Mr Peter de Jong, said at a press conference that he was delighted with the strong turnout.

He also said consumer demand was driving the travel industry, particularly pent-up demand carried over from the SARS downturn; strong economic performances in the Asia Pacific region; the liberalisation of aviation; and new low-cost air carriers.

Tourist arrivals in the region have grown 28 per cent since 2003. It is no wonder that the industry is responding to public demand for Asia Pacific destinations.

The 54th PATA Annual Conference will be held April 17-21, 2005, in Macau.