PATA’s Charter (Article IV) sets out the Association’s commitment to what is now called sustainable tourism:

“… to encourage and assist in the development of travel industries throughout Pacific Asia in a manner which recognises the urgent importance to practice an environmental ethic that supports responsible conservation and restoration of Pacific Asia’s unique combination of natural, social and cultural resources.”

Guided by the PATA Sustainable Tourism Advisory Committee, PATA’s development, research, communications and events activities often include references to, and discussions of, sound sustainable tourism concepts and practices.

For example, at the 50th PATA Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 2001, PATA adopted and undertook to promote the APEC/PATA Code for Sustainable Tourism.

In addition, the PATA Traveller's Code was approved by the PATA Sustainable Tourism Committee at its April 13, 2002 meeting in New Delhi, India.

Furthermore, PATA and Green Globe, a worldwide benchmarking and certification body, have agreed to work together to encourage PATA members to implement best practices.

The Association's first PATA CEO Challenge, April 29-30, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand concentrated on "Confronting Climate Change". See Events.