The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is looking to boost inbound tourist numbers from Southeast Asia.
To facilitate this, Craig Gibbons, LA Tourism’s Sydney based Australia and New Zealand regional director will have his responsibilities expanded.
As regional director, Oceania and Southeast Asia, he takes on market management of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well.
In the expanded role Gibbons will help develop and support air service to LAX, create destination training for the travel trade based on the L.A. Insider program and attend key travel industry trade shows across the region.
"Southeast Asia continues to be an expanding source-market for travel to the United States and we are keen to increase and support airlift from the region," said Kathryn Smits, vice president, Tourism for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.
Before joining LA Tourism, Gibbons had prior industry experience in the region after serving as Australia Country Manager for Visit Indonesia and commercial & trade executive, Southeast Asia & Australia for Visit Britain.
Last year Los Angeles welcomed 130,800 visitors from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which is annual increase of 5% on the previous year.
