Peter Semone is a passionate leader in the world of tourism, with deep expertise in the Pacific Asia region.

Currently serving his second term as Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Peter brings decades of hands-on experience in tourism development, capacity building, and strategic planning.

He has led impactful international projects in Timor-Leste, Lao PDR, and Vietnam, and is a trusted expert for UN Tourism (with a focus on China) and the Asian Development Bank (focused on the Greater Mekong Subregion).

Peter is also the founder of the award-winning Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH), a pioneering vocational school that has helped shape the country’s tourism workforce. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University, Peter spent many years living in Indonesia, where he launched successful tourism ventures and advised the government on tourism policy. He’s widely published in academic journals on tourism marketing and human capital, and has authored strategies and action plans at every level—from cities to entire regions.

When he’s not on the road, writing strategies or in the boardroom, Peter enjoys quality time with his family between Bali, Bangkok, and California.