MTA urges positive approach to reform

MTA urges positive approach to reform
By admin


The travel industry must stop “denigrating” the reform process currently being undertaken by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) and instead start contributing to a more positive outcome, according to Mobile Travel Agents managing director Roy Merricks.

Merricks, who attended the first round of ATAS workshops, described criticism of the scheme as “isolated” and questioned its basis.

“All of our businesses are different and it's our ability to decide if ATAS is for us individually and to tailor a range of insurances, the likes of which have never previously been made available in this country, accordingly,” he said.

This is one of the scheme’s structural advantages, he added.

“The system has been broken for years and thanks largely to the efforts of AFTA, and particularly CEO, Jayson Westbury and ATAS general manager, Gary O’Riordan, positive change is now a reality and thankfully coming in the very near future."

Merricks paid tribute to the efforts of AFTA chief executive Jayson Westbury in persistently petitioning Canberra for change on behalf of members.

“From an MTA perspective, it’s a "thank you" from us for the efforts Jayson and the AFTA team have gone and are going to.”

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