SOUTHWEST agents are to revive the South West Independent Federation of Travel Agents (Swifta) to forge closer ties with operators after losing its biggest member.
Newly signed Swifta member Anthony Goord, owner of Portsmouth-based Peter Goord Travel, said the loss of Lets Go Travel, which became a Harvey World Travel franchisee in June, saw the federation lose almost half its outlets.
Now, with 20 agency members accounting for 40 high-street shops, Goord believes the time is right for Swifta to redefine itself as the best organisation to represent the interests of West Country independents.
He said: “Lets Go was such a big part of Swifta that it took the focus away from what Swifta is about – tour operators focused on them. With Lets Go gone we’re hoping to get more recognition as a buying group in our own right.”
Negotiations are already under way with about 10 independent operators, although Goord refused to reveal which ones.
However, he revealed Swifta is looking to work closely with operators who could help expand regional flying programmes from Exeter and Bristol airports that predominantly feature Thomson and First Choice programmes.
Talks with those airports are already under way.
Goord said Swifta is important because it understands West Country customers are different to those in the rest of the country. “They’re not as Internet savvy as the rest of the country and are looking for extra service, also they’re not as price orientated,” he said.
Swifta chairman Nigel Pothecary said the federation’s revival will be helped by the creation of Triton, meaning all Swifta members now belong to the same super-consortium. “We are in a position to go to tour operators and help them promote their businesses in the West Country,” he said.
- Triton is already holding talks with Swifta about releasing a new Fly Direct brochure, featuring a variety of programmes all using Exeter, Bristol and Cardiff airports.