Travel agency associations from the Gulf have formed a lobby group to promote and protect their interests as the region expands its tourism industries.
Representatives from Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait and Sharjah have joined the newly formed Gulf Travel Association, which will be headed by the Abu Dhabi Travel and Tourism Association (ATTAC).
Association of Bahrain Travel and Tour Agents chairman Sofyan Almoayed said: "The group will allow us to protect the interests of travel agents around the Gulf and create one entity,which will strengthen our relationships not only with the airlines but with each other."
In the past decade, all countries in the GCC have adopted strategies to grow their tourism industries as a means of economic diversification.
Chairman of ATTAC and the Gulf Travel Association Nasser bin Youssuf said: "This is a new era in tourism and travel in the region. It will help us co-ordinate standards and upgrade services. Most importantly, it will improve transparency in the industry among Gulf countries."
Dubai-based Sharaf Travel's travel manager Premjit Bangara welcomed the group's formation. "We are at a time now when commissions are down. Airlines are reducing prices and earnings are down. When you have a strong lobbying group, you have that much more muscle to negotiate with airlines and hotel representatives all over the place," he said.
