Dusit Thani College proudly represented Thailand at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Summit 2025 held on April 21-23, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey.
The three-day summit brought together tourism professionals and thought leaders to address key issues facing Asia Pacific tourism. Day one featured Industry and Education Roundtables focusing on technology integration, workforce development, emerging travel trends, sustainability, and internship opportunities. The PATA Board also convened to discuss strategic priorities for the Association.
Mr. Simon Lloyd, Dean of Hospitality Management at Dusit Thani College, served as a moderator for the session ‘Building Tomorrow’s Tourism Workforce.’ He guided discussions on strategies for attracting and developing talent, the growing importance of digital and sustainability skills, and how businesses can adapt to evolving workforce expectations.
The second day opened with a cultural performance hosted by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Sessions explored how ancient wisdom, and modern innovation can shape a sustainable tourism future, with speakers advocating for climate action, unique destination identity development, and practical sustainability frameworks.
On this occasion a third-year international hospitality management student, Ms. Nicharas Rujiteerapat was among the delegates who participated in this prestigious tourism industry gathering. She was impressed by the transformative experience. “It felt surreal to stand among some of the brightest minds in tourism,” she shared. “Being part of that room reminded me how powerful our generation’s voice can be—not someday, but now.” Between sessions, she collected advice from industry leaders for a personal project, calling these handwritten notes her “favorite souvenirs.”
The summit was hosted in collaboration with Go Türkiye, Türkiye Turizm Tanıtım ve Geliştirme Ajansı, Turkish Airlines, and other partners, creating an unforgettable experience that reinforced Dusit Thani College’s commitment to global tourism education and leadership development.
