142: NY PATA – Jiangsu photos + New Members + Power ofNetworking at ITB + Bridging Times in Kowloon + HelloTokyo + Ski in Hokkaido + SE Asia Khmer EmpireInfluences; 142-20240314
 Issue 142, March 13, 2024New York, NYIssue 141; https://conta.cc/3T4RuQQ |
| NY PATA – Charm of Jiangsu 2024 |
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| Welcome to New Members |
| Undraa Buyannemekh – Nomadic ExpeditionsSanjay Saxena – Nomadic ExpeditionsGuenevere Winter – Nomadic ExpeditionsRandhir Jaiswal – Consulate General of India, NYDr. Varun Jeph – Consulate General of India, NYManish Kulhavy – Consulate General of India, NYClaudia Holquin – Chat TravelBlanca Parrabelalcazar – Gomez InternationalMunkhtulga.G – Miles OverlandEnkhbolor – Miles OverlandMunkhzul – Miles OverlandBrenda Solano – EB Hotel MiamiCharles Coonghe – Blue and Green TravelsRamaa Reddy – Venture TravellerSharon Gardner – Kingdom Travel NetworkPatricia Wood – Passport Pat Travel LLCCharles Man – Charles Man TravelsBecky Wong – Gloria Travel LLCNili Rajwan – Tzell Travel GroupVinu Devasia – Emmanuel Holidays Inc.Mina Su – Jiangsu Culture & Tourism |
| PATA Power of NetworkingHosted by ITB Berlin, Opening by PATA CEO |
 PATA’s experience at #ITBBerlin concluded smoothly with CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and COS Paul Pruangkarn engaging with the PATA network and industry colleagues from diverse sectors:HE Ibrahim Faisal, Minister of Tourism, MaldivesFathmath Thaufeeq, CEO, Maldives Marketing & Public Relations CorporationIbrahim Al Basser, International Affairs Director, Saudi Tourism AuthoritySharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor, CEO, Sarawak Tourism BoardIskandar Mirza Mohd Yusof, Senior Director, Tourism MalaysiaFabrizio Angelo Orlando, Global Director, Industry Affairs, TripadvisorBetsy Croft, Global Head, Industry Marketing, SkyscannerCaroline Bremner, Senior Head of Travel Research, Euromonitor InternationalAbdulla Ghiyas, President, Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour OperatorsPaloma Zapata, CEO, Sustainable Travel International#PATANetwork #ITB2024 |
| Connecting Cultures, Bridging Times |
 The first-ever Hong Kong International Cultural Summit 2024, hosted by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, will be held on 24-26 March 2024 at the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD).The Summit will offer a platform to bring together leaders from arts and cultural institutions globally to promote international cultural exchange and cultivate long-term partnerships. It will also demonstrate Hong Kong’s commitment to acting as an East-meets-West center for international cultural exchange.The West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land with close ties to its neighboring community, offering a place for all to experience the arts. With an array of theatres, performance spaces and museums, the WKCD produces and presents world-class exhibitions, performances, and entertainment events, both indoor and outdoor.https://www.culturalsummit2024.hk/ics2024/home#about |
| “HELLO! TOKYO FRIENDS” |
 Over 70 million people are on the immersive social platform Roblox around the world every day (as of November 2023). Users create their own avatars and play games published on Roblox. Once registered, the platform is accessible for free on any device, including smartphones and computers.HELLO! TOKYO FRIENDS is set in a self-contained virtual re-creation of Tokyo. Begin your virtual journey in the “Lobby,” inspired by TOKYO SKYTREE. Once you acquire the Treasure Book, it’s time to head into town. This book guides you in exploring landmarks like Tokyo Station, Tokyo Tower, and Ryogoku Kokugikan, as well as cityscapes including Shibuya Scramble Crossing and Akihabara. While wandering through the recreated world with the Treasure Book, you can engage in a treasure hunt, uncovering hidden gems throughout the city.https://www.gotokyo.org/english/agent/citypromotion/mailnewsletter/#a05Club Med – Kiroro Grand Hotelhttps://www.travelandleisure.com/club-med-kiroro-grand-japanese-hotel-review-8600074  |
 Southeast AsiaBeautiful Temples and Traditional DressTake a journey through time and explore the fascinating history of the Khmer Empire. At its peak, the Khmer Empire was larger than the Byzantine Empire, which existed around the same time. The beginning of the Khmer Empire is conventionally dated to 802, when Khmer prince Jayavarman II declared himself chakravartin ( lit. ‘universal ruler’, a title equivalent to ’emperor’) in the Phnom Kulen mountains. The Khmer kings were absolute rulers, meaning that they possessed total power and authority over their people. This ancient civilization, also known as Ancient Cambodia, was heavily influenced by Indian culture primarily due to the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism from India to Southeast Asia. It enjoyed its greatest prosperity from the 11th to the 13th century. The Khmer Empire ruled over a vast territory that included present-day Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Unfortunately, the empire’s downfall came in 1431 CE when it was captured by the Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya. Southeast Asia is a melting pot of various cultures, and each country has its unique identity. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar have an Indian base culture. While Vietnam’s culture is influenced by China, the southern region of Vietnam has more influence from Cambodia and other countries that were influenced by India. The legacy of the Khmer Empire lives on, and you can explore it today. Khmer, also known as Cambodian, is the language of the Khmer people and the official language of the Kingdom of Cambodia. From the delectable cuisine to the colorful festivals and traditions, Southeast Asia is a treasure trove of vibrant cultures waiting to be explored. |
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