The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has accepted the New Zealand Māori Tourism’s exceptional bid to host the second Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference (PAITC) and PATA Board Meetings in Rotorua, New Zealand from April 4-9, 2014.The objective of the PAITC is to promote awareness, enhance and protect the increasingly important tourism role of Asia Pacific’s Indigenous peoples such as hill tribes, forest dwellers, sea faring groups and Aboriginal people.
“PATA is pleased to partner with New Zealand Māori Tourism to host this significant Indigenous event, driven by Indigenous peoples, for the sustainable development of Indigenous tourism,” said Martin Craigs, PATA Chief Executive Officer. “We expect to draw participation from Indigenous leaders, government agencies, associations, operators, NGOs, universities, research bodies and media from around the globe, to discuss and share issues, challenges and solutions on how to best preserve Indigenous heritage and culture as part of the complete visitor economy.”
The PAITC is an opportunity to showcase the success of Māori tourism driving Māori economic growth, while holding a dialogue and sharing best practices from Indigenous groups around the world.
“We pride ourselves on being able offer a truly unique experience to visitors through our people, our stories and our landscapes, we look forward to welcoming delegates to the land of engaging faces and intriguing places, Aotearoa New Zealand,” said Pania Tyson-Nathan CEO of New Zealand Māori Tourism.
In addition to the PATA Executive Board and Board Meetings, the conference programme will incorporate activities that ensure the critical role of Indigenous tourism and the need to protect and enhance the authentic visitor experience are better understood and communicated to the wider tourism community.
The Conference agenda will be based on the principles adopted in the Larrakia Declaration on the Development of Indigenous Tourism, which was established during the first Pacific Asia Indigenous Conference, held in Darwin, Australia in March 2012. The Declaration aims to uphold and respect traditional laws, knowledge, land, and heritage in all tourism decisions, while ensuring that Indigenous peoples play a significant role in the decision-making of public policy and programs in the development of Indigenous tourism.

About New Zealand Māori Tourism
As the indigenous people of New Zealand, Māori have a special relationship stretching back centuries with this stunningly beautiful land. This relationship means Māori tourism is uniquely placed to offer visitors deeper experiences that weave culture and myth into New Zealand’s spectacular landscape.
New Zealand Māori Tourism (NZMT) is the national Māori tourism organisation, representing and advocating for more than 200 Māori tourism businesses. Based in Wellington, NZMT’s role is to influence investment decisions in Māori tourism, foster relationships within the sector and across the tourism industry, assist policy development, and to develop and implement strategies that encourage sector growth. It also provides an accessible point of contact with Māori tourism operators and stakeholders.
Māori culture is unique to New Zealand and offers a critical point of difference for New Zealand tourism. The Government has recognised the value that Māori tourism can add to the overseas visitor experience. It has mandated NZMT to develop and implement a Māori Tourism Strategy and initiate a Māori Tourism Action Plan. Visit http://www.maoritourism.co.nz/.