Open to one and all, it’s time to have your ATAS say

By Daisy Melwani

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) is set to welcome feedback of the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct, one year after the launch of the accreditation scheme.

The feedback process is open to the entire travel industry and anyone can submit a review for consideration by 31 August, which will then be collated and released in a report to AFTA, chief executive Jayson Westbury confirmed today.

“The aim of the review is to receive feedback and recommendations from interested parties in regard to the effectiveness of the ATAS scheme in achieving its objectives and the operation of the ATAS scheme,” he said.

Chris Greiner has been appointed to analyse the submissions and to provide a report to the AFTA board for consideration later this year.

“The AFTA board will release a response to any recommendations later in the year including any amendments to the Charter, Code, or the ACCMC which are warranted by its response to the review. The review is limited to the ATAS Charter and Code,” AFTA stated.

According to AFTA, almost 3100 locations are now accredited, with many more in the process of completing an application.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest comments

sting says:

August 4, 2015 at 2:44 pm

…..the voluntary program was designed around the agenda of big conglomerate businesses like flight centre, among others… it works greatly for their interest… if you actually remember graham turner having no qualms about going ahead with atas and the abolishing of tcf… barry mayo was right all along when he said consumers are not protected and would be vulnerable….. but for those who opposed barry it seemed like they were saying never mind if people lose their money so long as influential businesses look great… one outrageous comment about the recent fiasco actually said -use flight centre to be safe- ….. it’s almost like victim blaming… what graham turner would actually hope for… for consumers to see their money is safe with flight centre… what a great subtle agenda.. it cost millions of hard earned consumers’ money…. it’s so immoral…

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Jesse says:

July 27, 2015 at 7:19 pm

I agree, I had TCF accreditation but chose not to put more money in the slimey pockets of the AFTA board and shareholders. I am also tired of being made to look less of an agent because I chose not to be part of a VOLUNTARY program. I adhere to old TCF ways of doing things, and my company has a complaints handling process as well as IATA accreditation. Just because I choose not to be part of the program doesn’t make me less of an agent or mean I do subpar work and I resent many articles that make out that those of us who made that choice, are.
ATAS accreditation doesn’t magically make a good agent.

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sting says:

July 27, 2015 at 3:10 pm

….one year on and after a number of consumers lost thousands of their hard earned dollars to rogue operators, all afta officials should be ashamed of themselves and should resign as a matter of decency…. they were warned about loopholes before which they chose to ignore… now how do you tell the people who lost their money that less than a year ago there was this scheme that actually protects them from this sort of situation but was abolished…. well, with a jayson westbury smile, just like the above photo….

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- Jesse says:
  
  August 3, 2015 at 12:43 pm
  
  I find it hard to swallow sometimes, when I read articles that claim rogue agents weren’t ATAS accredited or AFTA members – but people don’t realise that ATAS doesn’t actually offer ANY financial protection to the consumer. I also find it offensive that in my almost 20 years in travel I’ve always done the right thing and continue to adhere to the TCF way of doing things, but I’m in the same boat because I chose not to put money into shareholder’s pockets. It’s typical though, when you look at who is on the board..
  
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  - Giovanni Di Sarova says:
    
    August 5, 2015 at 3:39 pm
    
    Hi Jesse,
    
    WOW – someone who makes sense on this topic (Music to my ears and eyes). You’re 110 percent right – consumers DON”T realize that neither AFTA or ATAS offer ANY consumer protection. That what your professional agency indemnity insurance cover and strong work ethic are for. My agency isn’t AFTA / ATAS accredited and most likely never will be.
    
    Just like when I was in the USA, ASTA (the American Society of Travel Agents) is just a lobbying organization, like AFTA / ATAS is. They have seduced the travelling public that unless you’re “accredited” (whatever that really means) by them, you’re at “risk” of dealing with less than upstanding, experienced travel professionals. Great marketing and revenue-generating platform for themselves and their shareholders, but it doesn’t seem to offer any real, tangible benefit to either the agents or the consumers
    
    Well, as we have seen since the demise of TCF, if you’re a crook or operate a corrupt, shoddy agency, no “accreditation” faceplate in the world is going to stop you from ripping-off your clients blind. You’re either decent or you’re not.
    
    We well-tenured travel professionals work extremely hard for our clients in order to provide them with a level of quality service and expertise that they couldn’t possible get on their own. That’s our real ‘accreditation” – satisfied clients.
    
    Gino
    .
    
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    - disqus_54Wii8zvq0 says:
      
      August 7, 2015 at 1:48 pm
      
      Couldn’t agree more!
      I’d like to see an enquiry happening into what actually went on behind the scenes to demise TCF and how AFTA gets their hands on millions of TCF dollars that should belong to the agents that paid in to protect consumers. How could the Government agree to dismantle TCF without proper consumer protection put into place?
      And how clever was that done, with crucial details, such as consumer protection insurance missing until “5 to 12”! AFTA’s agenda should have been visible to everyone who took the time to look at the board members.
      
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