Somak Holidays is ending its membership of the Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation so it can spend more money on combined initiatives with agencies.
Agency sales manager Nimit Amin said TIPTO membership can cost up to £30,000 once membership fees and the expense of attending various events are added up.
He believes the money saved by allowing the operator’s membership to lapse at the end of August will be more fruitfully spent in conjunction with local travel agencies.
He added: “We want to work with the agents we’ve got. Developing new business is more costly than retaining current businesses.”
The operator has a shortlist of between 300 and 400 agencies it is keen to work with through initiatives such as advertising campaigns, database marketing and agency-branded e-brochures.