Following APEC, PATA Annual Summit... North Gyeongsang Steps onto the Global Tourism Stage

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Host PATA Annual Summit May 11-13

75th Anniversary of the Pacific Asia Travel Association

Over 500 Participants from 35 Countries to Attend

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on May 7 that, together with North Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongju City, and Pohang City, it will host the '2026 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Summit' from May 11 to 13 in Gyeongju and Pohang.

This summit will be held at the HICO Gyeongju Convention Center and the area surrounding Lahan Hotel in Pohang. More than 500 tourism officials from 35 countries around the world will attend to discuss the future of tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.

PATA is a public-private tourism association in the Asia-Pacific region established in 1951. It consists of approximately 800 members, including central and local governments, tourism boards, airlines, travel agencies, hotels, and academia, who are stakeholders in the tourism industry.

This year’s summit will be held under the theme ‘Journey Toward a Resilient Future.’ It also serves as a follow-up international event to continue building on North Gyeongsang Province’s international tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) capabilities, following last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in Gyeongju.

On the first day, May 11, the opening ceremony, a youth academic forum, and meetings on industry and education will be held at Lahan Hotel in Pohang to commemorate the 75th anniversary of PATA’s founding. It will be an opportunity for next-generation tourism talent and industry experts to connect and exchange ideas.

From May 12 to 13, the main sessions will take place at HICO Gyeongju Convention Center. Alongside the PATA annual meeting, branch meetings, and policy discussions, there will be breakout sessions on topics such as ‘Sustainable Public-Private Cooperation in Tourism After the APEC Summit’ and ‘The Future of Tourism and Artificial Intelligence (AI).’

There will also be side events to promote Korean culture. On May 12, a banquet and cultural performances will be held at Gyeongju Expo Grand Park. Highlights include a Hanbok fashion show featuring five Korean master Hanbok artisans and a traditional Korean music performance by the Lee Heemoon Company.

During and around the summit period, participants will have the opportunity to visit UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, as well as take part in local cultural experiences like making floral dasik (traditional Korean tea snacks) and mother-of-pearl hand mirrors. Programs to visit major tourist attractions in Gyeongju and Pohang will also be available.

The Ministry plans to use the summit to expand Korea’s inbound tourism image from a Seoul-centered focus to the regions, and to promote Gyeongju and Pohang’s historical, marine, and industrial tourism resources to the international tourism industry.

Kim Daehyun, Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, “It is meaningful to once again welcome Asia-Pacific tourism professionals to Gyeongju, which successfully hosted last year’s APEC Summit. I hope this summit will serve as an opportunity to showcase the charm of the region to the world and contribute to the development of Korea’s tourism industry and the revitalization of the local economy.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.