Limited resources have forced Asata to mothball its professional programme (APP), one aspect of which provided professional designations to qualifying consultants.
The professional programme was years in the making and had been accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
Before the association hit pause, two programmes were available, both aimed at advisors at different stages of their career: Certified Travel Advisor and Certified Professional Travel Advisor.
Asata’s website described the APP thus: “The APP’s primary aim is to cultivate the highest level of professionalism among its certified travel advisors… [and] gauges a travel advisor’s competency in five core areas of skill: operational skills; destination skills; services skills; business skills; and computer skills.”
Asata ceo, Otto de Vries, said, among other cuts the organisation had been forced to retrench two of its four staff members during the pandemic. The Johannesburg office has been closed and salaries have been cut.
Otto, who has relocated to Cape Town, said the professional programme would be managed internally in the future. He downplayed the loss of the SAQA connection but said a timeline to revive the programme had not been established.
While Asata works on a renewed membership drive with 50% savings on sign-up costs, Otto said the association simply did not have the resources to manage, let alone relaunch the APP.
But, he said: “We believe we can deliver better value and align the programme with the industry’s needs. It’s a pity, but we still believe we can take the learnings and apply them.”
