Career Kickstart Training Program among initiatives revealed at ATIA inaugural Beyond Borders Summit

During the inaugural Beyond Borders Summit, held Friday 25th October at ICC Sydney, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) unveiled a series of landmark initiatives aimed at reshaping Australia’s tourism industry.

These initiatives, introduced as part of Project A30, represent a comprehensive reset for the Association and the industry, with the goal of fostering long-term growth, innovation and sustainability.

Project A30 is the culmination of a transformative three-year strategy that positions ATIA to respond to the evolving challenges and opportunities faced by the Australian travel industry.

Key announcements unveiled at the Summit include:

•Single-brand transition with ‘ATAS accredited’ becoming ‘ATIA accredited’: ATIA will consolidate under a unified brand, retiring the ATAS brand and moving towards a singular, recognisable identity. This transition aims to strengthen consumer trust and create a trusted travel ecosystem that connects suppliers, agencies and consumers more seamlessly. The move is designed to foster deeper engagement with consumers while simplifying the identity of the organisation across the entire supply chain.

•Industry-led protections: As part of its strategic commitment to the industry’s future, ATIA is developing new supplier and agency protection measures to safeguard both members and travellers. This program is designed to reduce risk, improve accountability and enhance confidence across the sector. A full proposal for industry-wide consultation is expected in 2025, signalling a collaborative approach to enhancing consumer protections without overburdening businesses with unnecessary regulations.

•Workforce-development Initiatives: ATIA will introduce a suite of programs aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the tourism industry. This includes a Gap Year program that will invite school leavers to experience careers in tourism, as well as the Travel Career Kickstart Training Program aimed at providing new starters with the skills they need to enter the workforce. These initiatives are critical in addressing the industry’s skill shortages and creating pathways for future generations of travel professionals.

•Modern-slavery-reporting solutions: ATIA is also leading the charge on streamlining compliance with Modern Slavery regulations. Working with partners, the Association will develop a bespoke solution that integrates with existing accreditation processes, reducing the burden on businesses and helping the industry address this critical issue more efficiently.

•Data Insight Series: ATIA announced the launch of its Enterprise Benchmarking Reports, a new data insight series that provides members with tailored performance comparisons against industry peers. This tool, leveraging de-identified ATAS and economic data, will offer valuable insights into market trends and member performance, allowing businesses to make informed decisions based on both historical and current data. It builds on ATIA’s monthly Travel Trends Reports.

Afterpay is the major sponsor for the Beyond Borders Travel Summit. This strategic partnership underscores Afterpay’s commitment to supporting the travel industry’s growth and innovation.

Image from left:  ATIA CEO Dean Long; ATIA Vice Chair Graham “Skroo” Turner; ATIA Vice Chair Danielle Russom; ATIA Chair Christian Hunter; ATIA Director Brett Mitchell