A raft of game-changing initiatives aimed at reshaping Australia’s travel sector have just been unveiled.
Entitled Project A30, the new measures were announced at the first Beyond Borders Summit in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA).
The announcements represent a comprehensive reset for the Association and the travel industry, with the goal of fostering long-term growth, innovation and sustainability.
They are the culmination of a transformative three-year strategy that positions ATIA to respond to the evolving challenges and opportunities faced by the Australian travel industry.
ATIA has announced it will be retiring the ATAS brand and focusing on building the awareness of and trust in the singular ATIA brand.
“Businesses who meet the standards and are accredited will be simply known as ATIA accredited, this shift is crucial, and it allows us to build a really trusted travel ecosystem that extends right across supply chain and consumer base,” said Christian Hunter, ATIA Chair (pictured).
“We can utilise our media reach and our influence across government to ensure that Australian consumers have a real understanding of who they can trust when they’re booking travel.”
The scrapping of ATAS was one of a raft of changes and new initiatives announced by ATIA at the event.
Industry-led protections
As part of its strategic commitment to the industry’s future, ATIA is developing new supplier and agency protection measures to safeguard both members and travellers.
This program is designed to reduce risk, improve accountability and enhance confidence across the sector.
A full proposal for industry-wide consultation is expected in 2025, signalling a collaborative approach to enhancing consumer protections without overburdening businesses with unnecessary regulations.
“Gap year” workforce development initiatives
ATIA will introduce a suite of programs aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the travel industry.
This includes a Gap Year program that will invite school leavers to experience careers in travel, as well as the Travel Career Kickstart Training Program aimed at providing new starters with the skills they need to enter the workforce.
These initiatives are critical in addressing the industry’s skill shortages and creating pathways for future generations of travel professionals.
Modern slavery reporting solutions
ATIA is also leading the charge on streamlining compliance with modern slavery regulations.
Working with partners, the Association will develop a bespoke solution that integrates with existing accreditation processes, reducing the burden on businesses and helping the industry address this critical issue more efficiently.
Data insight series
ATIA also announced the launch of its Enterprise Benchmarking Reports, a new data insight series that provides members with tailored performance comparisons against industry peers.
This tool, leveraging de-identified ATAS and economic data, will offer valuable insights into market trends and member performance, allowing businesses to make informed decisions based on both historical and current data.
“The introduction of Enterprise Benchmarking Reports is also a direct response to member feedback,” said Dean Long, ATIA CEO.
“These reports will provide invaluable insights into business performance, enabling our members to make data-driven decisions that support their growth and success.
In a competitive industry, having access to these kinds of insights is essential for staying ahead of market trends.”
