Responsible agents hold key to post-TCF era: MTA

Responsible agents hold key to post-TCF era: MTA
By admin


The managing director of Mobile Travel Agents, Roy Merricks, has expressed confidence that "responsible agents" will ensure the new Australian Federation of Travel Agents accreditation scheme will see clients protected.

Responding  to comments made by Travel Counsellors chairman, David Speakman, regarding the implementation of the new accreditation scheme, Merricks agreed that several “red flags” had been raised, particularly in regard to the on-charging of insurance costs to clients.

 But he was confident that agents operating in a responsible manner would "get it right” in order to safeguard clients in the post-TCF era.

 “Regardless of the winding up of the TCF, it has always been incumbent on responsible agents to ensure client’s monies are safeguarded as far as possible,” he said.

Although some question marks remain over the on-charging of insurance costs, practiced by some agents overseas, Merricks was convinced agents would take up the insurance solutions offered by the new Australia Federation of Travel Agents’ accreditation scheme.

 “It may well be a different scenario in other parts of the world where Mr Speakman’s organisation is active,” he said. “But I am confident here in Australia, intermediary and end supplier insurance will be taken up by responsible agents moving forward into the post-TCF environment.

Meanwhile, he welcomed the next phase of AFTA's process of consultation on the scheme which will see it take to the road for a second round of industry workshop – vital to help with "defusing and demystifying" the scheme, according to Merricks.

“All I can say is bring on the ATAS scheme and insurance options to protect us all – these are years overdue.”

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