Gregory Duffel Says Bali Shows the World How to Deal with a Global Financial Crisis.
(7/12/2009) The President and CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel association (PATA), Gregory A. Duffell, said that all the member countries of his association could learn from Bali where tourism numbers continue to grow.
PATA is a non-profit travel trade association serving government tourist offices, airlines, hotels and other travel-related companies throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Quoted by the Indonesian national news agency Antara, Duffell said: "Bali had revised it techniques and packages in developing its tourism. Other countries should see what has been done by Bali."
The PATA CEO's comments were made while attending a meeting of PATA Malaysia held in Kuta, Bali on Sunday, July 12.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the PATA Malaysia Chapter, Dato Amirrudin Abu, and the Secretary General of the PATA Bali and Nusa Tenggara Chapter, Ratna N. Soebrata, Duffel told of how while the tourism sector reeled with the advent of the world financial crisis, Bali was able to increase its tourism numbers. This ability to make advances in difficult times was credited to the hard work and creativity of Bali's tourism industry.
Duffel said that every crisis always presents new challenges and opportunities; what can be done with those possibilities depends on the aptitude and vision of the tourism practitioners in every country.
When asked what PATA can do to help its members deal with the current economic crisis, Duffel said his organization cannot solve the current financial crisis. PATA, he explained, can only support and provide information on business opportunities to its members.
Duffel explained: "We always provide accurate information on the opportunities available to our members. This information is communicated via websites, blogs, seminars, training and the mass media."
Duffel was attending a PATA Malaysia Conference held at the Wina Holiday Hotel July 10-13, 2009.
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