Agencies slam NATAS for lack of transparency

[Mustank]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/singapore/agencies-slam-natas-for/1493872.html

 

The Outbound Travel Fair press conference. (Photo: TODAY)

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SINGAPORE: Dozens of travel agencies on Tuesday (Nov 25) lashed out at the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) for its lack of transparency over the usage of proceeds from its mega travel fairs and, among other things, its refusal to open the books, at a press conference attended by representatives of 24 tour agencies.

 

The agencies also charged that the association was exploiting its members by not reducing rental rates for the NATAS fair an agency would need to pay between S$100,000 and S$200,000 to participate in the fair despite declining sales over the years that they attributed partly to the lacklustre publicity for the twice-yearly event.

 

Responding to the charges, a NATAS spokesman said that although the cost of renting exhibition halls has steadily risen over the past three years, the association which has been holding its travel fairs at Singapore Expo has not passed on the increases to the exhibitors. He said NATAS has been in discussion with members and exhibitors about their grievances. But we have to accept that NATAS may be unable to satisfy all its members given the diversity of our membership ... Everyone may have a different opinion on how the fair ought to be run, he said, adding that NATAS members include travel agents, tourism organisations, cruise lines and accommodation providers.

 

Last week, TODAY broke the news that the Big Four travel agencies Chan Brothers Travel, CTC Travel, Dynasty Travel and SA Tours were pulling out of the NATAS fair on Mar 27 to 29 and holding a rival fair at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) on the same dates, and were in talks with other agencies to make the switch.

 

BETTER DEALS FOR CONSUMERS

 

At the press conference held at MBS, it was announced that 24 outbound travel agencies in total including Nam Ho Travel, Farmosa Holidays, MISA Travel, Apple Holidays and New Shan Travel will be crossing over to the new fair, tentatively called the Outbound Travel Fair.

 

In contrast to the NATAS fair which charges a S$4 entrance fee, admission to the rival trade show is free.

 

The agencies which will continue to be NATAS members have formed a working committee to organise the rival fair, which will occupy a floor area that is 70 per cent the size of the NATAS fair next year. Booth rental will be up to 30 per cent cheaper. Excess revenue will be channelled to advertising and promotions or refunded to exhibitors. Cost savings will also be passed onto consumers, who will get better deals, the agencies said.

 

They said their dissatisfaction began in 2010. Despite raising the issues repeatedly, NATAS turned a deaf ear. They also submitted a petition last month, but the requests were not met, which was the last straw, they said.

 

The agencies had petitioned for reduced booth rentals, lowering of admission fees, disallowing overseas operators brought in by tourism boards to conduct sales, greater transparency and having representation on the NATAS fair organising committee.

 

The most recent NATAS fair in August saw about 10 per cent fewer visitors, compared with the fair held in August last year. Sales for several participating agencies this year had also fallen by around 10 to 20 per cent, the agencies said. They added that with customers increasingly making bookings via the Internet, holding a fair that charges an admission fee would further deter prospective customers.

 

NATAS RESPONDS

 

Former NATAS group chief executive Robert Khoo, who stepped down last year, dismissed the agencies claims. Customers are (getting fewer) simply because ... everybody is doing their own fair. So they have already stolen a big chunk of the business before the NATAS fair even starts, he said.

 

Mr Khoo said the admission fee raised from S$3 in 2010 was in place for crowd control. Members had fully supported (the) rationale when NATAS explained it to them many years ago, he said. He added that the income earned from the fair is ploughed back into events for members, who can attend them for free. These include NATAS annual dinner and dance, football and golf tournaments, and seminars.

 

The NATAS spokesman said attendance at its fairs may have reached a saturation point in recent years. It is unrealistic to expect growth year-on-year when consumers buying patterns have changed drastically, he said. On the impact of the pullout, the spokesman said NATAS has a membership base of more than 340 travel agents. It will revamp its fairs and try to draw in new exhibitors. In light of the developments, NATAS will meet its members on Thursday.

 

Still, the agencies boycotting the NATAS fair said they will return to the fold if the association addresses their grievances. Mr Anthony Chan, group managing director of Chan Brothers Travel, said: We are all very busy ... we dont want to spend effort organising travel fairs.

[Toothiewabbit]

Travel agents craimed to be makan-ed by travel agents who claimed they were makan-ed first...

 

 

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Edited November 26, 2014 by Toothiewabbit

[Vhtfhwlego]

This type of event, likely the decision markers comes from accounting background.

 

Block this, block that then kanna boycott.

Now accounts has nothing to be accounted for.

[Staff69]

the management of natas behave like some party that loves to ask people to pay and pay.

 

pay to enter exhibition and have the misfortune to met up with the management team before, act like they are the all mighty in travel related sector....

[Karu]

Obee Good!! Natas fair sucks when we have to pay to visit.

 

Free fairs will attract those who are sitting on the fence to commit if the prices are attractive.

Edited November 26, 2014 by Karu

[Mockngbrd]

lucky PAP not like that

[Icedbs]

In such disputes, consumer wins.

[Mustank]

  On 11/26/2014 at 8:17 AM, Mockngbrd said:

lucky PAP not like that

[Babyt]

maybe they think they are govt body lol.

[Vid]

When you have an association that can only earn money from the rental fees and entrance fees collected, it will be force to look after its interest first.

 

Tour companies are different. If they organize such fairs, they earn from the packages holiday makers pay. That will offset the costs of venue rental. If they can organize the fair themselves, and make it cheaper for others to join them, it will truly benefit consumers.

[Tohto]

  On 11/26/2014 at 8:17 AM, Mockngbrd said:

lucky PAP not like that

 

sure or not

[Kb27]

A lot of expo, fairs, exhibitions are just marked up pricing and then "discount" downwards.

Not to mention a lot of middlemen get cuts like NATAS.

 

If you truly want to pay low price, you should avoid all these and simply find a source without all these mark up to begin with.

 

Then there's no need for discount, you still get the best price....

...mainly nowadays it's direct from Internet dealers.

[Mustank]

  On 11/26/2014 at 9:27 AM, Kb27 said:

A lot of expo, fairs, exhibitions are just marked up pricing and then "discount" downwards.

Not to mention a lot of middlemen get cuts like NATAS.

 

If you truly want to pay low price, you should avoid all these and simply find a source without all these mark up to begin with.

 

Then there's no need for discount, you still get the best price....

...mainly nowadays it's direct from Internet dealers.

 

the internet really made some trades and organisation redundant

really is information age

[Sp4wn]

  On 11/26/2014 at 7:49 AM, Mustank said:

Mr Khoo said the admission fee raised from S$3 in 2010 was in place for crowd control. Members had fully supported (the) rationale when NATAS explained it to them many years ago, he said. He added that the income earned from the fair is ploughed back into events for members, who can attend them for free. These include NATAS annual dinner and dance, football and golf tournaments, and seminars.

 

in my opinion .. the so-called income plughed back into events is not necessary. ie dinner & dance is for staff. if they have 100 staff, each person about $100 for D&D (dinner+ venue + some prize), thats already 10k expenses borne by the visitors to the show and the exhibitors. same with organizing golf tourneys etc what. all cost money for whose entertainment? cant be each person who visit the fair and pay the entrance fee got chance to enjoy any of these perks? who is the only enjoying the perks :P

 

obviously public will want the best deal for their buck, instead of going into these so called expenses?

 

edit: i will add on that im the lazy type who prefer someone to plan everything for me, i just pay 1 lump sum and dont worry. but my wife is different. she wants to book at every stage and do everything herself. cant blame her. for my honeymoon, she saved me a few grand (when compared to the travel packages available).

Edited November 26, 2014 by Sp4wn

[Sosaria]

How can these travel companies/agents give us discounted tours when they have to pay through the nose to sell us these tours through participation in travel fairs, etc.??

 

It's like they have to pay more costs, but give us savings??

 

Somebody in the chain must be suffering... the guides?

[Mustank]

  On 11/26/2014 at 9:42 AM, Sp4wn said:

 

in my opinion .. the so-called income plughed back into events is not necessary. ie dinner & dance is for staff. if they have 100 staff, each person about $100 for D&D (dinner+ venue + some prize), thats already 10k expenses borne by the visitors to the show and the exhibitors. same with organizing golf tourneys etc what. all cost money for whose entertainment? cant be each person who visit the fair and pay the entrance fee got chance to enjoy any of these perks? who is the only enjoying the perks :P

 

obviously public will want the best deal for their buck, instead of going into these so called expenses?

 

edit: i will add on that im the lazy type who prefer someone to plan everything for me, i just pay 1 lump sum and dont worry. but my wife is different. she wants to book at every stage and do everything herself. cant blame her. for my honeymoon, she saved me a few grand (when compared to the travel packages available).

Most important is the save a few grand

Cannot comprain Liao

[1fast1]

NATAS.

 

Read it backwards.

[Ktglfc]

As long as we consumers benefit by not paying entrance fees, having much lower prices for packages, etc ... Damned it, I don't care who organise