HANDS up all those who can accurately explain what the Civil Aviation Authority does, or what an Air Travel Organiser’sLicence is. And who can point to Belize on the map?
Having difficulty? Then it might be worth considering splashing out £50 on the Travel Trust Association’s new training programme.
This was launched last month and is aimed primarily at anyone coming into the industry for the first time, who could be forgiven for their lack of knowledge. The TTA’s 10 new members this month will be getting their training programmes now.
But director Todd Carpenter said those who have been in the industry for some time might also benefit from taking the course.
“About 30% of all our members are new to travel so we felt they needed something to give them an overview of the industry, but even those with travel experience might benefit from knowing more about the TTA and how it works,”he said.
The association was launched officially in 1994 to give travel agents and tour operators an alternative to ABTA bonding. Instead of a bond, TTAmembers use a trust account to protect customer funds. The TTA regulates and monitors members trust funds, which pay out in the event of a company failure. It has 450 members, split equally between tour operators, travel agents and agents who organise tours.
“People who are already in the industry might have sound business ideas and be good at attention to detail, but lack basic knowledge, which is where the training programme could help. They might also want to get their staff to work through the travel-based part of the scheme.”
The two-module training programme has been put together for the association by the Travel Training Company. Part one is about the TTA and explains the trust account rules and procedures, and its code of conduct.
Part two covers geography and the flight-only sector, and explains such things as the work of the CAA, what ATOLs are and travel industry-related legislation – in fact, all the things people are likely to come up against when running an agency or tour operation.
Each module costs £50 to cover printing and administration expenses.
Once both have been completed, members two one-and-a-half-hour exams to pass before they can be awarded their certificate. It sounds tough, but it’s not that bad. The exam is taken at home or work and the paper is sent to the TTC for marking.
“Members welcomed the training programme when we announced it at World Travel Market,” said Carpenter.
“We do not expect anyone to work though it for the sake of it, just to get the certificate, but most were pleased to have the chance to educate themselves.
“At the moment it is just there for those who need it, but long-term I can see that we might make it a condition of membership for all those who are joining us,” he added.
“We might also consider using it for members who are in breach of our code of conduct.
“Instead of a fine, we could insist that they take the training programme.
“That way we would be going some way to ensure they do not make the same mistakes again.”
Todd said he wants to expand the programme year, with new modules covering other areas of importance to the trade.
“I would like the next module to be product-specific, put together in conjunction with tour operators,” he said.