The Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (Atas) has reported a 35% rise in its number of travel agent members.
The increase was recorded between March 2022 and the end of May 2023, according to Atas account director Claire Brighton.
Brighton said: “I’m thrilled to see substantial agent growth in the last 12 months. Our agent audience is a truly engaged one and that hasn’t changed with the growth.”
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Brighton spoke to Travel Weekly during the inaugural Atas Summit held in London’s News UK Building on Tuesday (June 13).
During her presentation, Brighton revealed that Atas members’ revenue so far for 2023 is at 97% of the figure achieved in the whole of 2022.
Departures between January and the end of May were also 18% up on the same period in 2019, though direct bookings outstripped agent sales in the same period, Brighton confirmed, identifying trade sales as an area with particular growth potential.
More than 265 agents have registered for the Atas conference in October, Brighton said, meaning the association is having to limit the number from each business for the first time.
Marketing expert Alex Newlin, of Accord, told the audience that the touring and adventure sector has “significant potential for growth”.
He referred to Mintel research showing that only 14% of people have been on a group touring holiday before, but pointed out that 37% of people are interested in taking a group holiday tour but have never been on one.
Photo: Atas account director Claire Brighton speaking at the Atas Summit 2023