The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has partnered with Visa to extend the Tourism Destination Resilience (TDR) Programme and support the development of a more sustainable and resilient tourism industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of destinations being prepared for challenges and changes, and the collaboration aims to strengthen the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and informal workers.
The partnership will create two online learning modules for SMEs, focusing on financial literacy, digital competency, and cybersecurity, which will be added to PATA's existing TDR Courses and available in six languages. In addition, in-person training will be provided for SMEs in Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. SMEs account for 80% of all tourism businesses, and the collaboration aims to increase their resilience in the face of future challenges.
The project also aims to empower informal workers in the tourism industry, who account for the majority of tourism employment, and provide opportunities for women, youth, and the elderly. The collaboration will assist in the development of their capacity in digital and financial skills, health and safety, marketing, and communication, among other topics.
Visa's Vice President of Inclusive Impact & Sustainability for Asia Pacific, Patsian Low, says that the partnership is proud to provide digital literacy and financial education to small and micro-businesses and informal workers, who are the backbone of the region's tourism industry. As travel and tourism continue to grow post-COVID-19, the collaboration will help individuals, businesses, and economies thrive, allowing Visa to fulfill its mission of uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.
The project's implementation will take place in Indonesia in the latter stages. PATA's Sustainability and Social Responsibility Programme Head, Pavnesh Kumar, says that the partnership will expand the impacts of Tourism Destination Resilience within destinations and target the two groups who often lack support in the industry. The collaboration aims to strengthen the capacity of SMEs and informal workers and contribute to the development of a more sustainable and resilient tourism industry.
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