Environment, travel growth hot topics at Pata conference
By Leong Chan Teilk
In Hong Kong
HONGKONG — Protecting the environment and allowing unrestricted growth in travel, two areas where Singapore has made much progress, were the hot topics at an international tourism gathering here yesterday.
About 1,600 delegates to the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s 41st annual conference were warned that consumers and environmentalists alike could affect the tourism business increasingly wherever it was seen to be a danger to the environment and cultural heritage.
On a different subject, Mr. Robert Crandall, chairman and president of American Airlines, attacked the "extraordinarily" protectionist aviation policies of Hong Kong, in particular, and several other Asian countries, in general.
In his keynote address at the opening of the four-day conference yesterday, he caused a stir with his criticism of the host city.
He blamed Hong Kong's "dogged" refusal to apply the free-enterprise principles that underpinned its economic success for the failure of six rounds of talks on a new aviation agreement with the United States.
Though Singapore was not mentioned, the Republic is known for its liberal aviation policies.
It has also taken steps towards being environment-friendly, such as encouraging the use of lead-free petrol and recycling of materials.
Meanwhile, Singaporean Tan Chee Chye was among six Industry veterans who were honored for their service to Pata.
Mr. Tan, a managing director of World Express, received the Merit Award.
Source : The Straits Times, March 31, 1992
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