TRAVEL INDUSTRY TRANSITION PLAN AND ACCREDITATION SCHEME UPDATE

September 2013 Update

Dear AFTA Members,

am delighted to share that on Tuesday 3rd September, we hosted the last of our AFTA Travel Accreditation Industry Consultation Workshops. This time, through a Webinar, to 91 individuals across Australia. In total, we have consulted with 650 agents across the country, witnessing a mixture of excitement and apprehension as we enter a deregulated Travel Industry environment. However, the feedback we have received from trade has been invaluable. Rest assured that we will use the feedback from the workshops to finesse the criteria and deliver a scheme which raises the profile of Travel Intermediaries and ensures that we future proof the Australian Travel Industry. A copy of the Webinar & PowerPoint presentation can be found at > http://www.afta.com.au

Recap: critical milestones

New trust deed with effect 1 July 2013 No licensing required after 30 June 2014 No TCF participation fee after 30 June 2014 No TCF Annual Financial Review for 12/13 or 13/14 Claims relating to 13/14 year will be paid out until June 2015 Once again, thank you for your patience, enthusiasm, feedback and ongoing support. We will back on the road in November 2013 to deliver our Transition Workshops and look forward to sharing the details of how you can become an Accredited Travel Intermediary.

Timeline

ATAS Scheme Criteria Finalised Sep 2013

Transition Workshops Nov/Dec 2013

ATAS Scheme Launched Apr 2014

ATAS Scheme live - Jul 2014

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Without an AFTA Travel Agent youre on your own

The Australian Federation of Travel Agents Limited www.afta.com.au

Australian Consumer Law for travel and accommodation businesses

The Australian Consumer Law, came into effect on 1 January 2011, and provides a single national law for fair trading and consumer protection. The ACL is enforced and administered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and each State and Territorys consumer agency. Under the terms of the Travel Industry Transition Plan, released 7 December 2013, AFTAs industry-developed and industry-run accreditation scheme ATAS, will oversee the competence and conduct of the travel services industry in Australia. A key feature of the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS) is a more efficient approach to consumer compensation through removal of the TCF and replacement with existing consumer protection mechanisms, including key provisions of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). On the 16 August 2013 the ACCC released Travel and accommodation an industry guide to the Australian Consumer Law. This guide provides information on ACL specific for travel and accommodation businesses. It covers key aspects of the law such as online bookings, holiday deals and group buying, refunds, booking transfers and cancellations. Consumer Protection is addressed under Criteria 3 of the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS) where participants will need to provide a Statement of Acceptance that through their corporate policies and procedures they will comply with the ACL. Therefore, we encourage you to familiarise yourselves with the Travel and accommodation guide to Australian Consumer Law. To download the ACCCs Travel and Accommodation Guide to Australian Consumer Law go to http://www.accc.gov.au/ publications/travel-accommodation-an-industry-guide-to-theaustralian-consumer-law

Kind regards,

Gary ORiordan General Manager Accreditation The Australian Federation of Travel Agents Level 3, 309 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 P 02 9287 9900 E gary@afta.com.au W www.afta.com.au Toll free 1300 363 416