AFTA UPDATE

from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents

THESE are tough times and we are all having to make tough decisions.

It is no different for us as an organisation.

In Sep, AFTA will take a critical step to preserve the organisation, and today, wishes to reassure members and industry that it is a necessary change to ensure the long-term viability of the organisation, its future and its people.

COVID-19 has brought with it many challenges and no one has felt the impact of the pandemic more strongly than our travel and tourism sector.

The industry would be aware that on 25 Mar, AFTA moved to a support and monitor framework to ensure that members had the necessary support to navigate through these unprecedented and challenging times.

The primary focus of the Federation became centred on ensuring that travel intermediaries, our members, were kept updated and engaged.

AFTA produced a range of dedicated resources to support the operations of our member’s businesses and increased the number and scope of webinars and communication initiatives. We also worked hard to promote the importance and value of agents in mainstream, travel and sector media and the critical need for tailored support from Government.

Our commitment to supporting members remains steadfast.

Like many organisations, AFTA also needs to take necessary steps to preserve the organisation and therefore from 01 Sep, AFTA will reduce its hours of operation and will introduce a pro-rata reduction in the team’s working hours.

This change will result in AFTA further rationalising member services to ensure that it still remains focused on supporting members in the areas most needed.

The AFTA Board of Directors and entire AFTA team remain committed to supporting members so they can get through COVID-19 and to deliver initiatives that support the recovery of the travel and tourism sector.