FUNDINGof £75,000 is being sought by ABTA and national tourist boards to cover the cost of operating a training course on selling domestic holidays.
An ABTA spokeswoman said there had been some success in attracting money for the scheme from key industry players, but more was needed before it could be launched.
The distance learning course is being developed for travel agents by the ABTA Joint Task Force Initiative, which was set up to promote the sale of domestic product through the trade in 1997.
The English Tourism Council, the Scottish Tourist Board and the Wales Tourist Board are all members.
The course will cover every area of Great Britain and include information about domestic holiday suppliers and hotels.
Agents will have to complete a questionnaire at the end of the course in order to qualify as a domestic specialist. The course will be open to all ABTA members.
Meanwhile, Internet-based technology is being developed in order to make it easierfor agents to sell the domestic product.
Agents are already helping to test the new booking systems.