Asata nets two big fish
Asata got off to a flying start in 2024 by welcoming Pentravel and Travelstart as its newest members.
According to Otto de Vries, Asata CEO, the association now represents 99% of the travel sector in South Africa based on market share, increasing it from the 2019 figure of 90%.
John Friel, Country Manager of Travelstart in South Africa said: “We have faced many challenges in the last few years, and a clear lesson learned is that we are a stronger force when we work in an aligned fashion. We are looking forward to debating important issues that we will face in the future and bringing an e-commerce voice to the table as part of the Asata membership network.”
Although the travel industry in South Africa is not regulated by the government, Asata feels it is essential that key players in the industry band together through associations to ensure that strict criteria and ethics are adhered to across the industry.
De Vries notes that Asata memberships signify trust, as all members uphold a specific set of criteria and code of conduct, which ensures ethical standards that reassure clients of members’ credibility when delivering services.
Additionally, Asata is a founding member of the World Travel Agents Association Alliance (WTAAA), and this membership offers its travel shareholders global connectivity, explained De Vries.
“There is no stronger community than the travel industry. We are built on relationships and on the foundation that we are better together. Together with our member network, I am confident we will continue advancing professionalism and trust across the regional travel sector,” said De Vries.
“Asata plays a pivotal role in contributing to a strong, transparent and dynamic travel services industry,” said Paulo de Oliveira, CEO of Pentravel.
Asata acts on its members’ behalf while facilitating the exchange of ideas and information for the betterment of the community regionally and worldwide.
Additionally, membership provides in-depth market knowledge, training programmes and networking events.
