AFTA UPDATE
from Jayson Westbury
AFTA remains committed to the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA), and this week in Abu Dhabi, the association embarked on a new frontier.
The WTAAA was formed about a decade ago and in doing so, created a new global organisation that was tasked with representing travel agency associations around the world.
During the annual assembly held at the weekend, a new executive team was elected. This included Mark Meader from the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), who was elected as Chairman.
With the global growth of the WTAAA, it has been constituted that two Vice Chair positions be created and these have been filled by Praveen Chugh, the President of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) and Guillermo Correa Sanfuentes, the Chairman of the South American Association of travel agencies (FOLATUR).
Also appointed was Michel de Blust from European Travel Agents and Tour Operators Associations (ECTAA) as the Secretary, while Wendy Paradis from the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) was appointed Treasurer.
This cross section of global representation will ensure that the WTAAA has a current and global lens placed on the issues at hand.
It is not easy to advocate for the many issues before the industry, but AFTA hopes to do so as it drills down & really gets involved in any & all issues before it. These include the IATA NewGenISS, NDC, IATA One order, the emergence of the continued and relentless push by suppliers to encourage consumers to book direct and the freedom of travel by all who may choose to do so.
The Australian travel industry is bound to thrive despite the many distractions that continue to present themselves.
I remain confident that travel agents will endure whatever may come their way. Congratulations to all involved in the travel industry and let’s hope that the time remaining in 2018 brings great prosperity to all those who continue to play on a level playing field. The WTAAA will go on under this new executive team to represent the global travel agency community, and warm congratulations are extended to the many new faces that will take the WTAAA forward.