TCF terminations trigger latest Mayo ATAS plea

TCF terminations trigger latest Mayo ATAS plea
By admin


The Travel Compensation Fund’s termination of another five travel agencies due to consumer claims is further proof that insolvency insurance must be a requirement of the new industry accreditation scheme, according to TravelManagers.

Chairman Barry Mayo said the home-based retail firm’s concerns have reached an “all-time high” with news of the termination of five more Tribal Travel outlets from the scheme, in addition to the five terminated on February 17.

The new termination notice takes the number of agencies facing consumer claims since January 1 to three agents with twelve outlets in five states, he stressed. As a result, he again called for the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) to make travel intermediary insolvency insurance a mandatory part of its new ATAS scheme.

“Today’s announcement of further travel agent closures across Australia, due to their failure to properly account to suppliers for monies received from customers, further highlights the real concerns for consumer protection and the importance of getting it right with ATAS,” Mayo said.

“As from July 1, without mandatory Travel Intermediary Insolvency Insurance, the potential for a significant number of clients to be adversely affected increases dramatically.”

He advised AFTA to look to its overseas counterparts such as the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand and the Association of British Travel Agents.

“The current regime in New Zealand under the TAANZ bonding scheme is designed to provide consumers with an assurance that if they deal with a TAANZ member they will at least receive some protection against the travel agents' failure to properly account to suppliers or other intermediaries for monies received from customers for that purpose,” he said.

“Whilst there is no legal requirement for travel agents to offer financial protection for their customers in Britain ABTA insists on it being a condition for ABTA membership.

“TravelManagers strongly believes AFTA needs to ensure it does make Travel Agent Insolvency Insurance a mandatory requirement for ATAS accreditation.”

Mayo “implored” the travel agent community to engage on the issue before the end of state and territory licensing of travel agents on June 30.

Latest News

  • Cruise

Aurora Expeditions announces savings for solo travellers

Aurora Expeditions has today announced savings for solo travellers thinking of going north for the summer. Adventurous solo travellers can take advantage of no solo supplements, enjoying a guaranteed private cabin on select departures during Aurora’s Arctic 2024 season with plenty of options available on unforgettable voyages visiting Greenland, Svalbard, Northwest Passage, Iceland and more. […]

  • Aviation
  • Destinations

Etihad and Tourism officials launch free Abu Dhabi Stopover

Etihad Airways and the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi have announced the launch of Abu Dhabi Stopover which invites guests flying through to turn their stopover into a free hotel stay and holiday. The Abu Dhabi Stopover, exclusive to Etihad Airways, will enable passengers to enjoy a convenient free stay in […]

  • Destinations

Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts

Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]