Relaunched peak industry body will represent the entire travel sector.
The Australian travel industry has a new peak body, with the Australian Federation of Travel Agents today transforming into the new Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA).
The momentous change was unveiled to members this morning by CEO Dean Long, who said the revamped organisation was a response to feedback from members wanting to create “one voice [and] one future to empower and support members and shape the future of Australia’s $69 billion travel industry”.
The organisation will have a new website online at atia.travel and Long also revealed a host of launch initiatives including a new Individual Membership option and several dedicated “caucuses” to give a voice to Tour Operators/Wholesalers, Independent Contractors and Independent Travel Agents.
It’s the latest evolution of the Association after an extensive review and public consultation period, with ATIA Chair Tom Manwaring saying “ATIA represents a combined powerhouse of travel agents, tour operators, consolidators and wholesalers”.
“In reviewing where we were, it became fundamentally apparent that our name was no longer fit for purpose… of our 1,200 members which include travel agents, corporate agents and OTAs, we also have 200 tour operators, wholealers and ITOs. Of our 1,000 travel agency members, only 14 were currently marketing or promoting their businesses as travel agents or agencies,” Manwaring said.
ATIA CEO Dean Long said the reforms were “all about delivering for our members now and in the future…making sure there’s a really powerful voice that represents international and domestic travel by Australians and the people that make it happen across travel agents, tour operators, wholesalers and consolidators is really important, and having a united voice is absolutely critical”.
More details in today’s issue of Travel Daily.