INDUSTRY AFFILIATIONS
IATA (INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRAVEL AGENTS)
From 57 founding members in 1945, IATA now represents some 250 airlines in over 115 countries. Carrying 84% of the world’s air traffic, IATA members include the world’s leading passenger and cargo airlines. Members benefit in several ways. Most importantly, IATA provides a powerful, unified and experienced voice that supports and promotes the interests of its members through:
- International recognition and lobbying
- Targeting key industry priorities
- Communication campaigns
- Training and other services
- Driving industry change
ASATA (ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRAVEL AGENTS)
The Association of Southern African Travel Agents, simply known as ASATA, was formed in 1956. Its founders created a representative forum in the industry to promote professional service with security for both Members and their clients. As a Section 21 Company not for profit, membership of ASATA is entirely voluntary and extends to South African Retail Travel Agents, Travel Management Companies and Wholesalers. A Partners section for those suppliers of travel related products to the industry also exists. Currently the Membership represents more than 85% of the industry including the head offices of most of the major brands.
ASATA’s emphasis is on free trade without violating rules and regulations. Accordingly we have entrenched a Constitution and a Code of Conduct that self-regulates the travel industry and provides the consumer with a benchmark and the comfort that the Members are compliant with ASATA’s guidelines. As an indicator of the effect of our governance processes, more than 97% of the complaints we receive from the Consumer relate to non-ASATA members!
XL TRAVEL GROUP
The GSTA is an associate member of the XL Travel Group. Due to its size and influence (annual sales exceeding R2 billion –USD 300m) the GSTA and the XL Travel Group plays a pivotal and prominent role within the South African Travel and Tourism Industry, having the ability to maximize procurement benefits with major suppliers within the airline, hotel, car rental, inbound, and tour operating industries. Members of the GSTA and XL Group are therefore able to extend a wide range of cost saving benefits to their clientele through some 575 highly trained travel counselors.