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Many travel associations
across the world are formed for the better understanding
of the tourism industry and providing the tourists with
all necessary services. They increase awareness and
bring benefits to the travel and tourism industry of a
country. These organizations try to increase the
passenger convenience and simplify traveling processes.
They act as a guiding organization and an intermediary
between travel agents and customers.
International
associations for travel agents include The American
Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), which is the world's
largest association of travel professional. It has
20,000-plus members that include travel agents and the
travel companies. They help tour and travel companies to
promote their tours, cruises, hotels, car rentals, etc.
ASTA is the leading advocate for travel agents, the
travel industry and the traveling lovers. Its mission is
to facilitate the business of selling travel packages
through efficient representation, enhanced knowledge and
the code of professionalism.
The Association of
British Travel Agents (ABTA) is another organization for
British travel agents. It has more tham siz thousand
Travel Agent members, and 1052 Tour Operator members.
More than 85% of package holidays in the United Kingdom
are sold through these members. International
Association of Travel Agents Network (IATAN) is another
industry association which was founded to represent the
interests of their member companies. They are
responsible for the standard international codes for
airlines, airports, hotels, cities, and car rental
firms, restaurants etc. AFTA is the representative body
for Australia's Travel Agents. An AFTA Travel Agent is
committed to provide travel related services with value,
integrity & Protection.
Travel agents
associations in India mainly include TAAI - Travel Agent
Association of India and the IATO - Indian Association
of Tour Operators. In the year 1951, twelve major
leading travel agents felt that a regulatory body was
needed to organize and control the travel and tourism
industry in India; leading to the formation of TAAI
towards the end of the year. The primary mission and
objective of TAAI was to protect the interests of those
occupied in the industry, to promote the growth of
tourism in India and to develop and to safeguard the
rights of the traveling public. TAAI and has been
recognized as the voice of the Travel and Tourism
industry in India. TAAI is responsible for all our
ethnic and dynamic culture that is being promoted in our
nation's Travel related activity. TAAI has a data base
of over 1800 members.
It comprises of IATA
accredited Travel Agencies; Airlines & General Sales
Agencies; Hotels and Tour operators; TAAI is the largest
Travel Association of India.
The Indian Association of
Tour Operators (IATO) was established in 1982. It is the
National apex body of the tourism industry. It has over
4000 members covering all sectors of Tourism Industry.
IATO has international acceptance and linkages. It has
connections and constant interaction with other Tourism
Associations in US, Nepal and Indonesia and other
countries. |
