LAUSR

The initial idea of the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) was first originated by Hai-Sik Sohn, Professor emeritus of Dong-A University, Korea with reputable scholars in the Asia Pacific Region. The first conference of APTA was held in Busan, Korea on September 21–24, 1995. The annual APTA conference has been held now for over two decades and established itself as one of the internationally acclaimed tourism/hospitality conferences in the region. The headquarters and secretariat have been in Dong-A University, Korea, and its website (www.APTA.asia) is maintained by the secretariat. APTA aims to accelerate tourism and hospitality research, especially, in the Asia-Pacific area, to disseminate research findings and to exchange ideas between academics and their counterparts in governments and industry sectors in tourism and hospitality. With a history of over two decades, the APTA has been fulfiling its mission vigorously to advance and foster tourism education, research, and professionalism in the Asia Pacific region. The APTA’s accomplishments are all credited to considerable efforts the national representatives of APTA made in the region and support of APTA members have shown. More specifically, the mission of APTA is to: (1) support the Asian Pacific community of tourism and hospitality educators and students disseminating quality research findings and knowledge, (2) help tourism and hospitality industry sharing managerial experience and knowledge, (3) promote quality tourism and hospitality research and marketing information, and (4) serve as a hub to deliver the relevant academic information to APTA members.