This year’s virtual edition of PATA Travel Mart (PTM) will take place from September 23-27, and will feature an interactive exhibition experience, video meets and live forums.

The event will offer two full business days with a possibility of up to 50 appointments across all time zones from September 24-25. There will also be two trade visitor days on September 26-27.

Additionally, there will be further networking opportunities at the interactive networking breaks, as well as opportunities to gain deeper insights into the industry at the presentation hall. Event delegates can also enjoy a 360-degree view of the Sichuan International Travel Expo through the Virtual PTM 2020 platform.

Event highlights include an interactive exhibition experience, where delegates can navigate an interactive map to browse sellers, submit matchmaking requests, view product presentations, and exchange contact information. Attendees can also hold meetings via video, text and voice chat; as well as gain insights on travel recovery with live presentations and panels through the PTM Forums.

Furthermore, buyers have the opportunity to earn prizes by earning points and completing event missions. Participants can also join virtual social games and stand a chance to win travel giveaways and prizes.

PATA CEO, Mario Hardy, said in a statement: “As some destinations have slowly restarted tourism through either domestic or regional travel, eventually international markets will follow. Virtual PTM allows business to begin exploring new opportunities and markets, particularly as travel behaviour and patterns will be dramatically different post-Covid-19.

“Asia-Pacific will be the leading force of tourism’s global recovery from Covid-19, as both an inbound destination as well as a robust source market. In addition, organisations need to start negotiating for recovery in 2021 and Virtual PTM is the perfect place to begin.”

The event is being organised in conjunction with the Sichuan International Travel Expo, with the support of the Leshan Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau and is powered by official virtual partner Dragon Trail Interactive (DTI).

DTI’s co-founder and CEO, George Cao, said that the company will live-stream forum sessions and other activities from the Sichuan International Travel Expo on the PTM Online platform.