PATA, EATOF, and Gangwon State Join Forces to Strengthen Tourism Destination Resilience

PATA and EATOF will conduct a Tourism Destination Resilience (TDR) Training Workshop in Gangwon State, South Korea, on 11 November 2026. The workshop aims to strengthen the capacity of tourism officials and industry stakeholders to manage risks, respond to crises and support sustainable destination development.

Focus on Destination Resilience
- Training will address:
- Risk identification and assessment
- Crisis communication
- Emergency planning
- Coordinated response strategies
- Long-term tourism sustainability

Why Gangwon State?
- One of South Korea's leading tourism destinations, known for:
- Mountains and national parks
- Coastal attractions
- Winter sports
- Cultural experiences
- Facing challenges such as:
- Seasonal forest fires
- Extreme winter weather
- Visitor demand fluctuations
- Overtourism during peak periods

Practical Capacity Building
- Participants will explore international best practices and practical tools for managing environmental, economic and operational risks.
- Training will be tailored to Gangwon State's tourism landscape and local challenges.

Leadership Perspectives
- PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid emphasized that resilience requires continuous preparedness, collaboration and long-term commitment.
- EATOF Secretary-General Lee Dong-hee highlighted the importance of joint efforts to address tourism challenges arising from climate change.

Key Participants
- Representatives from:
- Gangwon Tourism Foundation
- Municipal tourism authorities
- Local tourism businesses and stakeholders

Looking Ahead
- PATA will continue expanding its capacity-building programmes in 2027, focusing on:
- Tourism destination resilience
- Sustainability
- Tourism marketing
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Significance
- The initiative reinforces efforts to build a more resilient, sustainable and crisis-ready tourism sector while strengthening cooperation between PATA, EATOF and regional tourism stakeholders.