A pacific rim focus.

This article presents an overview of the 1997 Conference of the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) held from October 23-26 in San Diego, California in cooperation with the Education Forum of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). The annual event drew more than 150 travel and tourism educators and industry professionals from Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Great Britain and the U.S. The backdrop of the conference was the phenomenal and continued growth of the Pacific Rim region. The conference theme of the Pacific Rim was echoed in several workshops and research presentations. Workshop sessions included a how-to approach to enhance students' knowledge and cultural awareness about Asian travel and to prepare them with skills to assist travels to Asia, and a survey report on the future skill requirements in the retail travel industry. A research paper presented by researchers from Hawaii Pacific University and Cleveland State University investigated the relationship between Japanese tourists' travel-attribute quality and trip satisfaction. Reflecting the mission of ISTTE, the conference also devoted a number of workshop sessions and research presentations to travel and tourism education. A poster session on a variety of subjects was also made available. The 1997 Annual Conference of ISTTE was presided over by Kaye Chon, president of ISTTE.