ABTA has reported a 51% year-on-year increase in new members during July to December 2008, the period immediately following the collapse of XL Leisure Group.
The association now has 1,415 members, with Jet2Holidays in Leeds and Xexec Ltd in London among the most recent new members.
However, the total number of members has fallen from 1,459 in January 2008.
The news comes as the association wages a PR offensive following announcements by Worldchoice and Advantage of their intention to offer agents an alternative to ABTA.
ABTA insists its subscription package offers “competitive rates” compared to Worldchoice, TTA, Global and Advantage.
Chief executive Mark Tanzer said ABTA’s strong brand would help it stave off competition.
He said: “Time and again the value of a strong brand has proved itself across a range of industries. We are justly proud of the ABTA brand. It is the gold standard of the industry and the ABTA globe the most sought symbol of reassurance.”
Read the full story in Travel Weekly this Friday.