AFTA Board Meeting – 7 June 2006 – Report

The Board of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents met in Sydney on June 7, 2006 and amongst other things discussed the following matters:

Jetstar / Australia Post

The Board noted the decision of the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs not to grant an exemption from the travel agent regulatory regime to Jetstar and Australia Post to sell Jetstar tickets through Post Offices.

The Board considered and affirmed its opposition to the introduction of a risk based membership of the Travel Compensation Fund as such a fee system would penalise the many small business operating within the industry.

The Board therefore resolved to turn its attention to the lobbying of State Ministers and the TCF Board to express its concern at the consideration of a risk based membership.

Travel and Tourism Industry Staff Shortage

The Board reviewed a business plan prepared by the Travel Industry Forum in relation to the shortage of staff within the industry and the promotion of the industry as one of choice for people seeking employment.

The Board resolved to put forward the sum of $5,000 as requested by the Forum on the basis that such a commitment be matched by other industry members and associations in order for the Forum to achieve the sum it was seeking to move forward with its business plan.

Advertising

The Board discussed the issue of the promotion of the benefits of using travel agent services within Australia.

The Board resolved that as an initial step in this program that it would recommend to all industry participants that their advertising carry the slogan “Without a travel agent you are on your own” on all industry advertising and promotion.

The Board urges all industry members to get behind this initiative as an initial start to the consumer education process.

Aviation

The Board discussed at some length the matter of Australian Government aviation policy.

The Board confirmed its position that Australia should move to an open skies policy on all air routes given the obvious consumer benefit that will flow from such a policy.

To that end the Board resolved to support the request by Emirates Airlines for additional slots for services into and out of Australia and further in the future to support any initiative from other airlines wishing to commence operations or extend operations into and out of Australia.

AFTA General Manager

The Board noted the progress being made to seek an individual to fill this position and confirmed that the task of seeking an applicant has now been allocated exclusively to Travel Management Services.

Northern Territory Consumer Compensation Scheme

The Board noted the proposal for a consumer compensation scheme for the Northern Territory as this State is not a member of the national licensing and TCF regime.

The Board reaffirmed its commitment to AFTA’s involvement in assisting Northern Territory agents to devise a scheme which is acceptable to both the agency community and the Northern Territory Government and confirmed AFTA’s continuing participation in that process.

Strategic Review

The Board committed to convene in the second half of 2006 to conduct a strategic review of current industry issues in order to determine a forward priority work plan for the Federation.

Annual Results

The Board noted the result of an operating surplus of $29,827 for the year ended March 31, 2006 and requested the Chief Executive to issue a press release advising members of that result.

Annual General Meeting

The Board confirmed that the Annual General Meeting of the members of the Federation will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne on Saturday, July 8, 2006 at 2.00pm.