PATA is creating a series of online forums where the travel and tourism industry may share knowledge about issues relating to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The first forum deals with sustainable tourism.

PATA has also developed a Guide to Sustainable Tourism to support an initiative from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and SNV Asia of the Netherlands. The guide features the work of 15 PATA members within the Asia-Pacific region that covers a variety of projects undertaken by hotels, dive sites and trekking operations.

The case studies include details of why the companies concerned opted for a more responsible approach; work undertaken and the results that, in every case, produced tangible benefits for tourists, the industry and the environment. PATA is actively looking for more successful CSR case studies

Launching the guide, PATA secretary and treasurer Anthony Wong said, "I thank GTZ and SNV (Asia) for their involvement in this initiative. I recommend everyone to join in the online forum that acts as an exchange of ideas on CSR and Best Practice matters. The guide underlines our joint commitment and demonstrates that CSR can be both realistic and make good business sense."

GTZ and SNV (Asia) identified the need to publish a best practice guide for hotels and operators in Asia Pacific in response to growing demand for information on issues of corporate governance, social and environmental sustainability, climate change, gender equality and empowerment.

The launch follows PATA's recent restatement of its commitment to sustainable tourism and CSR with the adoption of a ‘Charter of Sustainability and Social Responsibility'. PATA seeks to provide 'leadership towards the achievement of environmental and economic sustainability, cultural preservation and social responsibility by the tourism and travel industry in Asia Pacific'. The Charter also pledges to ‘advance the role of tourism in poverty alleviation, social cohesion, cultural awareness and preservation of human dignity.'

PATA is now seeking support for the charter from a broad range of travel and tourism organisations – including national tourism organisations. The co-operation with GTZ and SNV Asia is the first of what PATA expects will be a series of partnerships to ensure effective implementation of social responsibility programmes.

The Guide to Sustainable Tourism may be viewed at: www.pata.org/patasite/index.php