The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has strengthened its leadership structure with the election and appointment of five new members to its Executive Board, bringing together senior professionals from tourism authorities, destination organizations, the digital travel sector and private tourism businesses. The appointments expand the range of expertise represented at the Association’s highest leadership level and reinforce PATA’s focus on cooperation, knowledge sharing and stronger industry representation across the Asia Pacific tourism sector.
The newly elected and appointed members are Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research at the Hawaii Tourism Authority in the United States; Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC, at Booking.com in Singapore; Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation; Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC at the Saudi Tourism Authority; and Suman Pandey, Group Chairman of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure in Nepal. While the first three were elected to the Executive Board, Aldabbagh and Pandey were appointed as non-voting Executive Board members, giving the Association additional industry expertise and regional perspectives.
Five appointments broaden PATA’s leadership
The latest appointments come as the tourism industry across Asia Pacific continues to experience rapid changes in travel behavior, technology, destination development and international market competition. By bringing representatives from different areas of the tourism ecosystem into its Executive Board, PATA is seeking to strengthen its ability to address these developments from both public- and private-sector perspectives.
The five new members collectively bring experience in tourism research, destination development, digital travel, island tourism, international market engagement and adventure tourism. Their backgrounds provide a broad combination of expertise that can contribute to PATA’s strategic discussions while also strengthening links between tourism authorities, businesses, technology companies and destination organizations throughout the region.
Jennifer Chun takes the Secretary/Treasurer position
Jennifer Chun, Director of Tourism Research at the Hawaii Tourism Authority, has been elected to the Executive Board and will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. Her professional background in tourism research and destination development brings a strong analytical and destination-management perspective to PATA’s leadership. Chun has also been actively involved in PATA through the Association’s programs and activities. Her experience is expected to contribute to the organization’s understanding of tourism trends, destination performance and changing visitor behavior. As tourism destinations increasingly rely on research and market intelligence to guide policy and promotion, her expertise provides an important addition to PATA’s senior leadership.
Her role as Secretary/Treasurer also places her in a key position within the Association’s executive structure. Through this responsibility, she will work alongside the Chairman and other Board members as PATA continues to strengthen its programs and support its membership across the Asia Pacific region.
Yang Li adds digital travel expertise
Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC, at Booking.com in Singapore, has been elected as an Executive Board member, bringing extensive experience from the digital travel sector. His professional expertise covers technology, digital platforms and the rapidly evolving travel ecosystem, areas that have become increasingly influential in the way destinations and tourism businesses connect with travelers. The growth of online travel platforms has fundamentally changed how people discover destinations, compare accommodation and travel services, make bookings and plan their journeys. Li’s experience within this digital environment is expected to provide PATA with valuable insight into these developments and the challenges and opportunities they create for tourism stakeholders.
His appointment also strengthens the private-sector representation within PATA’s leadership. As destinations increasingly seek to combine traditional tourism promotion with digital marketing, online distribution and technology-driven services, expertise from the digital travel industry can help inform discussions about the future direction of regional tourism.
Ibrahim Shiuree represents the Maldives
Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation, has also been elected to the Executive Board. His appointment brings the perspective of the Maldives, one of the Asia Pacific region’s leading island tourism destinations, and strengthens PATA’s engagement with destination organizations operating in island tourism markets.
The Maldives has built a strong international tourism profile around its island environment and hospitality sector, while island destinations more broadly face distinctive challenges related to international connectivity, sustainability, destination capacity and changing visitor demand. Shiuree’s experience at Visit Maldives Corporation therefore adds an important destination-level perspective to PATA’s leadership.
His participation is expected to support wider discussions on the priorities of island tourism economies and the strategies required to maintain destination competitiveness. It also allows PATA to further strengthen collaboration among destination organizations dealing with similar tourism opportunities and challenges across the region.
Alhasan Aldabbagh joins as a non-voting member
Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC at the Saudi Tourism Authority, has been appointed as a non-voting Executive Board member. His professional experience in destination development, international tourism and market engagement adds another significant perspective to PATA’s leadership. Aldabbagh’s role connects PATA with a tourism market undergoing substantial development and international expansion. His experience in destination promotion and international market engagement can contribute to the Association’s understanding of emerging tourism opportunities and the evolving relationship between destinations and international travelers.
Although Aldabbagh serves as a non-voting member, his participation expands the range of professional expertise available to the Executive Board. His appointment also contributes to PATA’s wider objective of strengthening relationships and cooperation among tourism stakeholders across the Asia Pacific region and the broader global tourism community.
Suman Pandey strengthens Nepal’s representation
Nepal’s tourism industry will be represented on the Executive Board through Suman Pandey, Group Chairman of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure. Pandey has been appointed as a non-voting Executive Board member, continuing his longstanding involvement with PATA and its leadership activities. Pandey brings extensive experience from Nepal’s private tourism sector, particularly in adventure and experiential tourism. Nepal is internationally recognized for its mountain landscapes, trekking routes and adventure travel opportunities, making his professional background particularly relevant to discussions surrounding adventure tourism and destination experiences.
His continued involvement also provides an element of continuity for PATA. Having previously contributed to the Association and served in leadership roles, Pandey is familiar with its programs, activities and wider industry network. His appointment allows PATA to retain that experience while strengthening the representation of Nepal and the Himalayan adventure tourism sector within its leadership structure.
PATA’s Executive Board now fully constituted
Following the latest appointments, PATA’s Executive Board is led by Henry Oh, Chairman of Global Tour Ltd, with Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador of Centara Hotels & Resorts, serving as Vice Chair. Jennifer Chun serves as Secretary/Treasurer, while the Executive Board includes representatives from major tourism, travel technology, destination and hospitality organizations.
The Executive Board members include Jackson Pek, Chief Corporate & Legal Affairs Officer at Amadeus; Maria Paz Alberto, President of Ark Travel Express, Inc.; Yang Li, Head of Public Affairs, APAC, Booking.com; Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Director-General of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA); Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor, CEO of the Sarawak Tourism Board; Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation; Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority; and Suman Pandey, Group Chairman of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure.
The Association’s leadership structure also includes Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of PATA, serving in an ex-officio capacity. With the addition of the five new members, the Executive Board is now fully constituted, bringing together expertise from different parts of the tourism industry and a wide range of markets across the region.
Henry Oh welcomes the new leadership
PATA Chairman Henry Oh welcomed Jennifer Chun, Yang Li, Ibrahim Shiuree, Alhasan Aldabbagh and Suman Pandey to the Executive Board, highlighting the value of their diverse experience, knowledge and perspectives. He said the Association would benefit from their contributions as it works to strengthen PATA and encourage greater cooperation among its members and the wider tourism industry. The new leadership composition reflects PATA’s effort to bring together different voices within the tourism sector rather than relying on a single type of industry representation. Tourism authorities can provide destination and policy perspectives, private companies can contribute commercial and operational experience, while technology and travel organizations can offer insight into rapidly changing consumer and digital trends.
A broader platform for regional tourism cooperation
The new Executive Board will work alongside PATA Chairman Henry Oh and the Association’s wider leadership to advance its strategic priorities and support its mission across the Pacific Asia region. PATA’s work centers on sharing knowledge, enabling networking and protecting tourism economy assets, making cooperation among its members an important part of its role within the regional tourism industry.
The addition of professionals representing destinations such as Hawaii, the Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Nepal, alongside global travel and technology companies, gives the Association a broad base of experience from which to approach emerging tourism issues. Their combined perspectives can contribute to discussions on destination development, international markets, digital transformation, adventure travel and the changing needs of tourism businesses.
Leadership changes come at an important time for tourism
The appointments come at a time when destinations across Asia Pacific are competing to attract international visitors while adapting to significant changes in the global tourism landscape. Digital technologies are transforming travel planning and marketing, travelers are becoming more selective about their experiences, and destinations are placing increasing emphasis on sustainable development and long-term tourism value. Against this backdrop, PATA’s expanded leadership brings together professionals with experience in several of these critical areas. The combination of tourism research, digital travel, destination management, international market development and adventure tourism gives the Association a diverse leadership base as it seeks to support its members and strengthen cooperation across the region.
With its Executive Board now fully constituted, PATA can move forward with a broader range of industry voices and expertise at the leadership level. The participation of the five new members is expected to strengthen the Association’s ability to connect tourism stakeholders, exchange knowledge and encourage collaboration, while supporting the wider development and competitiveness of the Asia Pacific tourism industry.
