CONFERENCE Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers Conference 2023: More than 400


Atas unveils educational for agents and Morocco pledge


T


he Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers will take more than 50 member agents to an


experiential conference on Lake Como next March. Atas director Claire Brighton


told delegates at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool that the trip will be held in partnership with the tourist boards of Italy and Lake Como. “We want to bring touring and


adventure to life,” she said. Agents will spend two nights in


a hotel and take part in a range of experiences during the educational, which will take place on March 20-22. Winners of the Atas Recognition


Awards – announced at the conference’s gala dinner – will have fully hosted places on the trip. Five other places were won by agents who entered a draw on the Italian tourist board stand at the trade fair. Among the other initiatives


revealed by Brighton were a new Tourism is crucial;


they want work. Every time you book tourism to Morocco, you are helping people


Touring and Adventure Guide, and a partnership with AS Training, which works with the travel industry to offer apprenticeships and training. The online Touring and


Adventure Guide will help agents find out more about Atas members, as well as offering selling tips. Further editions of the Touring


and Adventure Guide will be published in April and next summer. A new ‘Morocco Pledge’ aims


to support the country to continue its recovery after last month’s devastating earthquake. Brighton urged agents to sign the pledge, commit to promoting


holidays in Morocco, and send a message of support that Atas will pass on to communities affected by the disaster. Zina Bencheikh, Atas chair and


EMEA managing director at Intrepid Travel, said: “Continuing to book is the right thing to do.” She highlighted how operator


clients who had been in Morocco when the quake hit had been supported by suppliers “who were in the best position to support travellers”. Author and presenter Alice


Morrison spoke in a session sponsored by Intrepid Travel about her adventures and life in the Atlas mountains of Morocco. She was close to the epicentre


of the earthquake, describing it as “one of the most terrifying experiences of my life”. “Tourism is crucial; they want


work,” said Morrison. “Every time you book tourism to Morocco, you are helping people.”


Joan Jones Wendy Wu hails trade’s expertise and knowledge


Wendy Wu hailed the “expertise and knowledge” of travel agents in the “sexy and cool” touring sector. The founder of Wendy Wu


Tours said: “As soon as customers come to a travel agent, they are ready to use experts, so they can be a touring customer.” Wu told delegates how classic


touring has evolved, with clients asking for more-immersive experiences, trying local cuisine and opting for “unique” experiences. Solo holidays are also seeing growth, she said, while


the operator has added Christmas tours to destinations such as China and Japan.


14 19 OCTOBER 2023 Wendy Wu The Asia specialist also


broadened its range amid the Covid pandemic, offering UK, Ireland, European and Middle Eastern tours. Next for its portfolio will


be South Africa, and Wu is “thinking” of Saudi Arabia after that. Delegates also heard


from Bob Simpson, product


development vice-president at Silversea Expeditions, who talked about the attractions of expedition cruising. “Polar expedition cruises account for 2% of the


touring and adventure sector’s sales – but that’s a growing proportion,” he said.


Adam Armstrong ‘Don’t overlook traveller


The chief executive of youth specialist Contiki urged agents to take advantage of “lucrative” opportunities by booking more touring and adventure holidays for travellers in their 20s and 30s. Adam Armstrong said: “Youth operators


would love more bookings from the trade.” About 2% of


Atas members’ sales come from people in their 20s, although the youth sector recovered quickest after Covid.


travelweekly.co.uk


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