With the T-QUAL accreditation scheme consigned to the scrapheap, other industry-led accreditation schemes have an opportunity to “take centre stage”, according to the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).
The organisation, which officially launched its ATAS accreditation scheme this week, said that T-QUAL had “complicated a crowded space” and highlighted the benefits of quality schemes and accreditation programs that are operated “by industry, for industry”.
Chief executive Jayson Westbury used its own recently launched travel industry accreditation program as an example of such a scheme.
“July 1 saw the launch of ATAS which followed the removal of $25 million of red tape by State and Territory Governments,” he said.
“ATAS establishes industry standards for the travel sector and provides travellers a brand to seek for quality service. To date over 1400 agencies have been accredited in a matter of weeks since the scheme opened for applications.”
Meanwhile, Tourism Accommodation Australia highlighted the need for accreditation schemes to evolve in order to cater to changing consumer needs.
It therefore welcomed the recent commitment by Star Ratings Australia to “reinvigorate” its system to include user ratings.
“Market forces exercised via consumer feedback to organisations like Wotif and Trip-Advisor are now far more powerful than accreditation schemes operated by industry groups and much more relied upon by consumers,” it said.
“In addition, with most Australian hotels now owned, operated or aligned with major national and international hotel brands consumers know that they can rely on well understood brand standards.”
TAA called on minister for trade and investment Andrew Robb to ensure that any savings from the discontinuation of TQUAL go into the Tourism Australia marketing budget in order to generate a “guaranteed return” for all Australian tourism and hospitality businesses.
