PATA and APOLA Partner to Promote Sustainable Outdoor Tourism in Asia Pacific

Priyal Dutta5 months Ago1 Mins read295

PATA and APOLA Partner to Promote Sustainable Outdoor Tourism in Asia Pacific

(L/R): Matt Gebbie, Director, Horwath HTL, and Executive Committee Member, APOLA; Shyn Yee Ho, Director, Horwath HTL, and Executive Committee Member, APOLA; Willem Niemeijer, Executive Committee Member and Founding Member, APOLA; Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA; and Michael Sagild, Co-founder & President, Could Collective, and Executive Committee Member, APOLA, at the MoU signing.

PATA and APOLA Sign MoU to Support Sustainable Outdoor Lodging in Asia Pacific

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Asia-Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA) have entered into a formal partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and promote sustainable tourism values across the Asia Pacific region.

APOLA is a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting sustainable growth, innovation, and improved standards within the Asia Pacific outdoor lodging sector, often referred to as “glamping”.

The MoU was signed by PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and APOLA Executive Committee Member and Founding Member Willem Niemeijer on Thursday, January 22, during the Thailand Tourism Forum 2026 in Bangkok.

Commenting on the partnership, Hamid said the agreement will support stronger international cooperation across the region and enable the exchange of best practices and the launch of collaborative initiatives. He added that both organisations aim to advance responsible and sustainable tourism while creating value for their respective members.

Niemeijer said outdoor lodging is growing at about 11% annually in the region and highlighted the sector’s potential to support nature-based, responsible tourism experiences. He also noted that demand for nature-first accommodation formats such as tented camps, cabins, yurts, treehouses, and nature pods across beaches, mountains, forests, and other natural areas has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside promoting sustainable practices, he said APOLA is also working to develop sector standards.

As outlined in the agreement, key areas of cooperation include reciprocal membership access, allowing both organisations to benefit from each other’s member services at the association level. The partnership will also focus on research and knowledge exchange, with APOLA contributing selected research, tourism insights, and travel trends on a quarterly basis through PATA’s members-only communication channels.

In addition, the organisations will support joint activities, such as mutual event promotion and speaker participation, where relevant. Members and representatives from both groups will have opportunities to connect through networking sessions and annual events, with registration support provided in line with the agreement.

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Priyal Dutta

I create compelling stories that showcase the travel, hospitality, and lifestyle industries. At Safari India, I explore industry trends, write insightful articles, and produce content that informs and engages readers. With a talent for storytelling and a strategic approach, I strive to inform, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations through my work.