TOURISM
239
the United Nations convened through UNESCO, the first Inter- national Travel Conference, which was held in Rome. The conference was instigated by IUOTO and was attended by representatives of 87 different countries and 25 international organizations. A representative from Hong Kong attended the conference as part of the United Kingdom delegation.
The Pacific Area Travel Association was created to promote travel to and within the area of the Pacific and south-east Asia. The work and influence of this organization is expanding rapidly each year. The 12th annual conference was held in Djakarta in March and was attended by 442 delegates and observers from 28 different countries. There are 66 members of PATA in Hong Kong. The British Travel and Holiday Association through its head office in London and through 20 sub-offices and representatives in 14 countries abroad, assists Hong Kong by providing informa- tion about the Colony and by carrying a stock of promotional material which is made available to enquirers.
The American Society of Travel Agents is the largest single organization of international standing for travel agents, carriers, government travel organizations and many other people in the travel industry. At the yearly convention held in October in Mexico, a formal invitation was extended to ASTA to hold its 1965 convention in Hong Kong. This convention was attended by 11 representatives of the Hong Kong travel industry.
Overseas Offices and Representation. So that quick and efficient factual service can be given to travellers and potential travellers, the Hong Kong Tourist Association now has representation in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Dallas as well as in Minneapolis, Chicago and Los Angeles through the Association's public relations consultants. The Tourist Association also has an office and representative in Sydney and plans are being made to have representation early in 1964 in London for coverage of the United Kingdom and Europe.
Page 300Page 301