ASSOCIATION OF ZIMBABWE TRAVEL AGENTS
WORK PLAN 2014/2015
Key areas of Activity & Relevant Association Objectives
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6.
Association Finances
Membership
Training
Aviation Matters(Airlines , BAR , BSP , IATA)
Major Tourism and Aviation Associations (ZTA , ZCT , CAAZ/NHS)
Website
1. ASSOCIATION FINANCES
Objective:
 To apply subscription levels on a half yearly or annual basis sufficient to allow
for the efficient running of the Association Secretariat and in addition to
provide for surplus Association funds to allow the executive to achieve the
objectives it has set for it self in this plan.
 To ensure the efficient running of the new Independent AZTA Office.
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To speak to the AZTA Lawyer about an Audit/Finance Committee that has been set
up to monitor the Associations finances and if this could be drafted into our existing
constitution.
Commentary:
A professional association of over 60 members needs a secretariat which takes care
of assisting the executive in the day-to-day running of the association (financially
and otherwise) and facilitates smooth communication between executive and
members (website and newsletters).
The aim of the association is to fulfill all commitments to local (ZCT) and
international organisations (IATA/UFTAA) that look after interests of our industry
and travel agents.
Action:
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Treasurer to produce actual 2013 Cashbook and 2014 budget for the
financial year i.e. January – December to be sent out before a General
Meeting.
Treasurer to participate in job description of secretariat.
Fulfill financial obligations to ZCT and UFTAA.
2. MEMBERSHIP
Objectives:
 To increase the membership of AZTA both full members, and associate
members.
 To contact and deal with Travel Agencies which are not AZTA Members but
are still operating and displaying the AZTA Logo.
 To define which category Independent Travel Consultants (ITC’s) fall under.
 To ensure that all members have full details of AZTA recommended training
courses.
 Defined Membership criteria.
 To ensure through our code of conduct Travel Agents perform in a
professional manner.
Action:
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To ensure there is a complete list, with all the contact details kept up to date
at all times. Application forms, constitution, code of conduct as well as
certificates of membership to be updated and distributed as and when
required.
Inspection of each prospective member is required within two weeks of the
application being received and a full report tabled at the next committee
meeting for approval (or otherwise with reasons) and acceptance into AZTA.
Once approved (or rejected with reasons) a letter, with invoice, to be sent
within one week to the member advising them of the outcome of the
committee’s decision and that payment is due within two weeks at which
time their certificate will be sent out.
Approach to be made to any travel agent that may have just opened to
encourage early membership application.
Register any defaulting staff fed into the AZTA data base according to the
constitution.
Liaise with IATA to establish if there are any new licensed travel agents with a
view to inviting them to join AZTA.
Request AZTA constitution and code of conduct to be included in all the
travel consultants’ training.
Engage with ZTA to draw up documents for all new entrants that are ZTA
registered to be AZTA registered.
Non-IATA and home-base agents to become development members without
being IATA members.
3. TRAINING
Objectives:
 To ensure that all members have full details of AZTA Recommended Training
Courses that is available to members of the Association.
 To invite both GDS’s to our General Meeting.
 Make contact with all the training schools in Zimbabwe. Check with the
Membership secretariat to establish if they are AZTA approved institutions
and if not supply the details to the Membership secretary to follow up.
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Once principals, ensure they send all their training courses with detail of the
benefits, dates, content and price so they can be included in our web page or
if urgent, flash through to our members.
Engage the learning institutions i.e. universities and colleagues to draw up
appropriate curriculum relevant to travel agency operations.
Have a special training section on the AZTA web page.
Action:
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Training committee member – presently Roxy Petker.
All training schools to work together.
Make contact with all the training schools in Zimbabwe. Check with the
Membership secretariat to establish if they are AZTA approved institutions
and if not supply the details to the Membership secretary to follow up.
Once principals, ensure they send all their training courses with detail of the
benefits, dates, content and price so they can be included in our web page or
if urgent, flash through to our members.
Have a special training section on the AZTA web page.
4. AVIATION MATTERS
Objectives:
 To maintain constant dialogue and advocacy to all stakeholders with a view
to informing our members of all the rules, regulations and conditions laid
down by the authorities and suppliers. Ensure our transactions with the
customer are professional, transparent and understood.
Action:
 Liaise with all of the above in respect of development or change i.e.
establishes the need to have a general meeting, workshop or training
sessions.
 Encourage dialogue with all the stakeholders in an open, transparent and
objective manner. Feedback any change or concern to the committee at the
monthly meeting or if a serious issue such as a default member, contact the
Chairperson and/or Vice to alert and appraise them of the situation.
 Encourage all of our suppliers to include AZTA in their open meetings and
reciprocate the invitation.
 Invite the airlines to our General Meeting.
 Hold a JALWG meeting as necessary.
5. MAJOR TOURISM AND AVIATION ASSOCIATIONS (ZTC/ZTA)
Objectives:
 Build a solid relationship with our authorities and maintain constant dialogue
and communication.
Commentary:
Before attending any meetings, if time permits, table their agenda so decisions,
requests, opinions and observations of our members can be tabled at their meetings.
Attend their meetings and give feedback at the Committee meetings.
Action:
 To set up meetings with them and address issues that we are currently facing
and see how they are able to assist.
6. WEBSITE
Objective:
 To keep the website updated with the current information and news from the
principles etc. for the industry
 Keep the website updated with member’s details
 Continue encouraging more people – agents and principles to advertise on the
Website
 To keep the industry engaged by asking them what they would like to
have on the Website as well that will be useful for them.
 Make the website user-friendly for the public to access information on
accredited members
Action Plan:
 Contact the members every so often for updated details.
 Promote our website as a sales platform for both principles and agents
showing the professional caliber of agents in AZTA
 To ensure all members pay their website advertising subscriptions.
 Continue encouraging the industry to advertise on the website – showing them
the benefits of doing so
 Add consumer advice on booking through accredited agencies
CURRENT WEBSITE FEES
Free Membership listing
Side Banner: USD 60.00 for 6 months (190 x 346 pixels, *width to be no more than 190)
Bottom Banner: USD 80.00 for 6 months (650 x 150 pixels).
Banner Design: USD 40.00 (upload of the banner is free).
Corrections to existing listing: USD 5.00
* Subject to change without notice