The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced that Al Ain will be the first Arab destination to host the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart, a report said.

Expected to attract several delegates from the association’s member-countries, this year’s edition - from February 21 to 24 - will build on the success of past events and focus on facilitating networking and relationship-building within the industry, said a report in WAM.

Held under the theme "Adventure in a New Era," the event offers delegations from across the Asia Pacific region an opportunity to exchange knowledge and unlock the full potential of the adventure tourism sector in the digital era.

The event brings together industry experts and visionaries from across the globe to discuss pertinent issues in the adventure tourism sector. Keynote speakers include Dr. Mario Hardy, chief executive officer, Pata, Thailand; Norie Quintos, editor at Large, National Geographic Travel and Independent Communications Consultant, USA, and Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, executive director, Tourism Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi, the report said.

"We are excited to participate in the thought-provoking discussions that will be taking place throughout this event. There is no doubt that technology is disrupting the industry and the way in which destinations interact with travellers. As such, this platform is invaluable as it helps all members-countries gain important insights and analysis to develop national strategies for sustainable tourism as well as preserve their natural landmarks and environment. The Pata conference is the ideal forum to promote Al Ain region’s status as a destination of distinction for tourists looking for culturally enriching, authentic experiences. Over the last couple of years, Abu Dhabi has seen a surge in the number of guests emerging from this region India, China, and Australia being priority markets which we are keen to further boost in the coming years," Al Dhaheri said.

Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director of Promotions and Overseas Offices at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: "We are very proud to become the first Arab city to host this event, only two years after becoming a member of the association. This is a strong indication of the emirate’s rising status as a leading destination for business tourism and Mice travel. The Asia Pacific region is one of our priority markets, which is showing consistent growth year-on-year. As part of Pata, we have unique in-roads to our top source markets across this vibrant region, which help us showcase our world-class destination and rich diversity of culture and attractions. We look forward to working with member-countries to encourage the hosting of business events in Al Ain region."