The Travel Foundation

Travel Associations

• ABTA

  ABTA (The Association of British Travel Agents) was founded in 1950 and is a founding member of the Travel Foundation. It is the UK’s Premier Trade Association for Tour Operators and Travel Agents having more than 1700 member companies with 6600 outlets around the UK. ABTA has developed in-house expertise on responsible tourism and uses its high profile within the industry and with consumers to encourage best practice, provide access to tools and raise awareness. The Association is a member of the DTI’s Sectoral Sustainability Pioneers network as well as the European Commission’s Tourism Sustainability Group. ABTA have also developed the Travelife Collection, and in June 2010 launched the second edition of Travelife hotels.

• AITO

  Using their own Responsible Tourism scheme AITO aim to invite all its members to engage in responsible tourism and encourage them to fulfil their commitment under the AITO charter to recognise their social and environmental responsibilities. 2002 saw the launch of an Awards scheme designed to enable all member companies, irrespective of the types of holiday which they operate, to strive towards Responsible Tourism as an attainable goal. A condition of membership of AITO is a commitment to the values of responsible and sustainable tourism.

• LATA

  LATA is a travel trade organisation that was founded to promote travel to Latin America. The association brings together over 200 companies, including tourist boards, tour operators, hotels, wholesalers, media, airlines and overseas members. Through regular meetings and press newsletters LATA aim to stimulate the growth of travel to Latin America and create a better understanding of travel matters relating to Latin America. As well as increasing awareness in the UK they aim to inform and advise Latin American travel suppliers on requirements of the UK market place.

• Year Out Group

  Year Out Group is an association of leading gap year organisations that was launched in 2000 to promote the concept and benefits of a well-structured year out, to promote good practice amongst its members and to help those planning a gap year to select suitable and worthwhile projects. Year Out Group has over 35 member organisations that annually place some 50,000 people in projects in over 90 countries. Members are required to adhere to the Group’s Code of Practice, which includes a statement on ethical considerations. It is intended that the statement will increase the awareness of the issue in the minds of those predominantly 17 to 24 year olds who are planning and taking their gap years.