The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) officially launched its Rapid Recovery Task Force (PRRT) at the association's Engagement Hub at its head office in Bangkok on January 31.

The PRRT is a standing task force of the PATA CEO and seven volunteers who will collectively try to help PATA member destinations during and after times of crisis, such as SARS, floods, tsunamis, disease outbreaks and terrorist incidents, all of which have had a massive impact on Asia Pacific destinations in the last 10 years or so. The objective is to help destinations return to ‘normal' as quickly as possible.

Led by Mr Bert van Walbeek, Managing Director of Thailand-based consultancy The Winning Edge, and Chairman of PATA Thailand Chapter, the fledgling PRRT has already been instrumental in relaying important travel advisories, contending biased media reports, and helping rebuild consumer confidence. The Japan earthquake and tsunami of March 2011 and the Thailand flood crisis in 2011 are two examples.

Members of the taskforce include, in alphabetical order:

•  David Beirman, Senior Lecturer, University of Technology, Sydney

•  Emma Cashmore, Managing Director, Axis Travel Marketing, London

•  Martin J Craigs, PATA CEO, Bangkok

•  Walt Judas, Vice President Marketing Communications, Tourism Vancouver

•  Alexander Kesper, Security and Safety Executive, Bali Hotels Association, Denpasar

•  Ken Scott, Managing Director, ScottAsia Communications, Bangkok

•  Rick Vogel, President, Include Ltd, Tokyo

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