ABTA has ordered a crackdown on bogus members who are seeking cheap tickets to the association’s Convention in Australia.
The move follows complaints that some agents took friends and relatives to Marbella last year and claimed they worked for the agency in order to gain cheap member rates.
Newman Street believe the Cairns Convention – which costs £150 for members and £399 for non-members – could attract even more hangers-on and is calling on agents to expose those in the industry who are abusing the system.
Chief executive Ian Reynolds said:”There were some people in Marbella who were presented as staff members who later turned out not to work in the industry.
“It is irritating and unfair the system is being abused in this way and it could be of concern in Australia.”
ABTA considered demanding pay slips or a pay roll from agents as proof of membership but the idea was dropped for being too intrusive.
“We decided it should be self-policing,” said Reynolds. “We would like to hear from members if they are aware of this going on.”
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