Marking its first anniversary after rebranding to the Australian Travel Industry Association in August 2023, ATIA looks back on its inaugural year of operation and impact as a domestic and international travel industry advocate and what comes next.
As ATIA gears up for the highly anticipated National Travel Industry Awards (NTIAs) held on 26 October 2024, CEO Dean Long said the name change reflects the organisation’s conscious effort to recognise the sector’s diversity of roles.
These include the contributions of travel advisors, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and international tour operators.
Long said: “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.”
ATIA advocacy in action
ATIA’s advocacy initiatives include campaigning for the reintroduction of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Aviation Monitoring Report and securing an industry place on the new Jobs & Skills Council, ensuring a skilled workforce for the future.
This year’s achievements also include restructuring the Board to ensure the diversity of membership representation, growth in individual and destination membership after opening up to individuals and strengthening the Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS).
What’s next?
Long said the new ATIA Board lineup will share the next strategic steps at the inaugural Beyond Borders Travel Summit on 25 October 2024, which will also address wider industry issues and emerging trends.
“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,” he said.
“Significant progress has also been made towards the industry’s future, reaching beyond this year’s achievements,” Long added.
“The ATIA Board and team have intensified our focus to ensure we are set up to continually support our members as we shape the future of travel together.”
Find out who made the first round of NTIA finalists here.
