The Pacific-Asia Travel Association (Pata) has cancelled its annual summit in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE at the end of March, following cancellation of ITB Berlin which was due this week.
It means two of the industry’s biggest global events have now been cancelled amid efforts to contain the coronavirus.
Pata chief executive Mario Hardy described the decision to cancel the summit as “tremendously difficult”.
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He said: “We are extremely disappointed. However, we believe it best we made this decision in a clear and timely manner.”
He confirmed the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority had agreed to host the PATA Annual Summit 2021, with dates to be announced.
Hardy said: “We continue to encourage industry stakeholders to remain calm but stay vigilant and take proper precautions.
“Most important, we ask that you get your information from reputable sources such as the World Health Organisation.”
ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show, was cancelled late on February 28.
Organiser Messe Berlin said the German ministries of health and economics had “stated their opinion that ITB Berlin be cancelled”.
It noted: “The health authority stipulated that each participant prove they were not from a designated risk area or had not been in contact with a person from a risk area. It was not possible for Messe Berlin to satisfy these requirements.”
Up to 130,000 participants had been expected at ITB.
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Posted by Travel Weekly UK on Wednesday, March 4, 2020