THE
Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation is to elect a new head this
week following ABTA president John Harding’s decision to step down as chairman.
Harding,
who is also Travelscene sales director, said the added workload of being ABTA
president and the difficulties of representing both bodies meant he had to give
up his position at TIPTO.
“It
clashes with my ABTA responsibilities because TIPTO represents independent
operators, which I remain protective of, but as ABTA president I speak for everybody,”
said Harding.
Having
been a founding member of TIPTO and chairman for three years, Harding will
relinquish his role on August 31.
Travelscene’s
interests in TIPTO will be represented by sales manager Nigel Ham.