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28 Nov, 2016

Roberto Jotikasathira, President, ASEANTA

ASEAN Travel & Tourism Hall of Fame – Initiated by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil to recognise the many veterans who helped grow and shape ASEAN tourism over the last 50 years.

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Date and Place of Birth:  10 August 1932, Bangkok

Marital Status: Married with one son.

Education:

The son of a Thai diplomat and Italian mother, he did most of his schooling in Rome and London. Then did a brief stint at the University of Rome studying political science.

Professional Career:

Spent many early years in Italy and North Africa (Libya and Tunisia) working for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. After getting married in Italy to an aristocratic Thai in March 1964, he moved to Thailand in 1969 and began working for World Travel Service, helping WTS founder Kusa Panyarachun develop the European market. Left to set up Turismo Thai. Thereafter:

1976-2003: Founder & Managing Director, Turismo Thai Co, Ltd.

2000-2003: President, Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce

2001-2002: Vice President, Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA)

2001-2002: Board Member, ASEAN Tourism Associations (ASEANTA)

1999-2001: President, Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA)

1999-2000: President, ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), and the Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA)

1997-2000: President UAPA (UFTAA Asia Pacific Alliance, comprising of Travel Agent Associations from China, Japan, Korea, ASEAN countries, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji).

1991-1999: Board of Directors, The Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA)

1989-1992: President, ASEAN Tourism Associations (ASEANTA), and the Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA)

1989-1991: President, Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA)

1984-1987: President, Thai Italian Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, Thailand Board of Trade

Date of Passing: 10 January 2004

Turismo Thai Co. Ltd. was a B2B, Destination Management Company (DMC) specialising in handling tourist from European source markets into Thailand. It was founded in 1976 with 5 Staff and grew to become one of Thailand’s largest operators three decades later. Based on its reputation of providing quality service, Turismo Thai formed a joint venture with TUI AG to become Turismo Asia Co.Ltd in 2005.

Source: Nino Jotikasathira, son, and Travel Impact Newswire archives