The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a Tsunami Recovery Fund which will be dedicated to a recovery programme for the benefit of tourism employees in Asia Pacific resort destinations affected by the disaster.
PATA president and CEO, Peter de Jong, said: “We want to help rebuild lives and hope in tourism communities devastated by the 26 December tragedy.
“Our focus will be on helping people recover confidence and livelihoods in Sri Lanka, Sumatra, southern Thailand, south-east India, the Maldives, north-west Malaysia, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Other institutions will rebuild physical infrastructure, our fund will sow the seeds of human hope and long-term recovery in the tourism sector.”
The organisation has also reminded consumers that most of Asia has not been affected by the tidal surges.
“Fortunately, the majority of Asia was unaffected by this tragedy,” said de Jong. “Outside the Indian Ocean rim areas, the travel industry continues its normal business. There is no need to cancel trips to non-affected areas.”
He added that even some affected coastal areas have hotels which escaped serious impact and are open for business.
