The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) presented the Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS) statistics for August 2024.

ATIA noted how the latest data underscored the rigorous standards and robust processes that maintain ATAS accreditation as the gold standard in the travel industry.

It should be noted that, due to the stringent nature of the qualification process, around 25 percent of applicants are rejected. This highlights the robustness of achieving ATAS accreditation.

Acting ATIA chief executive Ingrid Fraser said: “ATAS accreditation is more than just a logo; it is a testament to the exceptional levels of professionalism and reliability that accredited travel professionals have day in, day out. Our stringent processes ensure that the reputation of the Australian travel industry and the confidence of Australian consumers in the industry remain strong.”

New in August

In August, ATIA welcomed seven new businesses to the ATAS community: Helloworld Travel Ferntree Gully, Ormina Tours, SportsLink Travel, 2nd Chance Travels Pty Ltd, Opulent Cruises, Blake Travel, and Inspiring Travel.

However, one business voluntarily withdrew from accreditation, and an additional two companies found their accreditations removed.

As of press time, 19 members are currently on monitoring agreements which require them to provide quarterly finance and operational updates. Likewise, five show cause notices were issued, meaning that these businesses had 14 days to answer queries or have their accreditation cancelled.