NATAS rival travel fair attracts more than 50 travel brands
The breakaway consumer travel fair organized by members critical of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) have confirmed more than 50 travel brands, including airlines and cruise companies will attend their competing event.
Several prominent travel firms in Singapore boycotted the official NATAS event taking place next weekend due to the association’s lack of transparency in how revenue from the twice-yearly NATAS Travel Fair were used.
The agents also compalined of the high cost of renting exhibition booths.
The ‘Travel Revolution 2015’ rival event takes place on March 27 to 29 at Marina Bay Sands and is supported by Singapore’s ‘Big Four’ travel agencies that called for a NATAS boycott last year: SA Tours, Chan Brothers Travel, Dynasty Travel and CTC Travel.
Last November a group of 24 travel agencies announced they would boycott NATAS and talks between the two parties are still ongoing.
"We are still hopeful that we can come together as one big family. Since Day One, we have always been open to discussion. The doors are always open," said NATAS spokesperson Gregory Tan.
Travel Revolution 2015 has attracted Singapore Airlines, international tourism organisations from Thailand, Japan and South Korea, and several major banks including DBS, UOB and Standard Chartered.
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