One year after transforming into the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), we are proud to be fulfilling our commitment to delivering value for our members and serving as a strong advocate for both international and domestic travel by Australians.
The rebranding to ATIA was not just a change of name but a celebration of the rich diversity within our membership. It was a conscious effort to accurately reflect the diverse roles and contributions of our travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.
Our focus has been delivering on engaging with our members to allow us to achieve across our strategic pillars: 1) structure and purpose, 2) confidence and trust and 3) industry workforce and capabilities. The Association has made significant headway on these in the first 12 months.
Structure and purpose: We have ensured that our membership’s diversity is represented at the highest levels. The Board now mirrors the breadth of our membership, allowing for thorough debate on the issues that matter most to our members and ensuring resources are directed where they have the greatest impact. The ATAS Advisory Committee has played a key role in shaping the future of the Scheme, working to enhance its relevance and strengthen its reputation. We continue to see growth in membership from individuals and destinations, which is crucial as the Association fosters a unified travel ecosystem.
Confidence and trust: We are committed to promoting best practices across the industry. Through ATAS’s industry-led accreditation, we reaffirm ATIA’s dedication to raising standards and building consumer trust. We have rigorous criteria in place to ensure the integrity of the accreditation process, which is tailored to each membership type. Currently, one in four applications to join the Scheme do not meet these high standards and are rejected.
We have significantly increased our investment in research and insights, further solidifying our reputation as a trusted source of advice for the community, government and industry. Additionally, we continue to develop initiatives that offer members strong platforms for collaboration, networking and advocacy, tailored to their unique needs, such as the Travel Exchange and Beyond Borders.
Industry workforce and capabilities: ATIA’s proactive advocacy efforts have solidified its position as the leading voice on travel issues. The Association successfully campaigned for the reintroduction of the ACCC Aviation Monitoring Report and secured a place on the new Jobs and Skills Council for the Travel and Tourism industry, ensuring a skilled workforce for the future. These initiatives demonstrate ATIA’s dedication to elevating industry standards through accreditation, comprehensive educational resources and strategic support.
Tickets are still available but selling quickly for the inaugural Beyond Borders Summit on Friday, 25 October, where the ATIA Board and Executive will outline what’s next for Travel as well as provide the opportunity to hear from high-quality speakers and network ahead of NTIA.
Reserve your spot at bit.ly/beyondborderstickets.
“The transition to ATIA has been truly transformative, and one year on, we want to express our gratitude to all our members for embracing this evolution and helping us amplify our collective voice. Over the past year, we have concentrated on establishing solid foundations to ensure that ATIA remains a strong representative and a natural home for both our current and future members,” ATIA CEO Dean Long said.
“As an organisation, the ATIA Board and team have intensified our focus to ensure that we are set up to continually support our members as we shape the future of Travel together. These efforts mean we are always engaged in the collective interests of the businesses and people we represent.”
“Significant progress has also been made towards the industry’s future, reaching beyond this year’s achievements. The Board remains committed to transparency and inclusivity in its decision-making, and we will share the outcomes of these efforts at Beyond Borders on 25 October, on the eve of NTIA.”
“For many in the industry, Beyond Borders will be the first opportunity to hear directly from the Board of Directors and leadership as we unveil the next phase of our strategic direction. This direction will significantly influence the operations of the entire travel ecosystem.”
