ATIA Forms New Committee to Support Independent Agents
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has initiated a Committee of Independent Travel Agents and Advisors to enhance representation within the industry.
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has inaugurated the Committee of Independent Travel Agents and Advisors (CTA) during the Beyond Borders 2025 event in Brisbane, emphasizing its dedication to providing every member segment a distinct voice in the national industry leadership.
This initiative commenced with the announcement at Beyond Borders 2024 that each ATIA Director would take on specific responsibility for a member segment, ensuring every segment of the industry could contribute at the Board level.
In the past year, ATIA has intensified its commitment, initially partnering with the Association of Travel Management Companies (ATMC) to aid corporate travel agents, and now establishing the CTA to advocate for independent agents.
The CTA equips independent agents with a structured framework to advise and stay informed on ATIA’s ongoing policies and initiatives, allowing members to express their priorities, steer the agenda, and tackle the unique challenges encountered in their businesses.
ATIA members looking to join the CTA will be invited to express their interest, with the inaugural committee planned for formation in late 2025. Independent agents eager to influence the committee’s initial direction can register their interest via the ATIA website.
These efforts underline ATIA’s strategic goal of ensuring that every member segment—including independent, retail, corporate, tour operators, and wholesalers—has a vital role in guiding the future of Australia’s travel industry.
Christian Hunter, ATIA Chair, remarked: “The inception of CTA stems from nearly a year’s effort to fortify segment-specific representation within ATIA. This is a conscious and strategic progression, marking another step in our mission to empower each member segment in national decision-making."
He emphasizes, “Independent agents have always been crucial to ATIA. With CTA, they now possess a formal seat at the table, able to influence agendas, shape outcomes, and maintain connection to the advocacy work that propels their businesses forward.”
