I’ve been involved in the travel business, one way or the other, for nigh on 20 years and I’ve never really understood the point of the FTO. If anyone can enlighten me, then I would welcome some help.
With all the consolidation amongst operators last year, the FTO seemed to have even less point, and the subsequent joining with ABTA seemed logical. It would strengthen ABTA on the operator side, where I feel it has always been quite weak and it would loosen its membership restrictions. Except this never happened.
Surely the logical step would be for any operator who was an ABTA member to become a member of the FTO, thus strengthening both bodies?
My view of the FTO is similar to that of an Old Boys Club. You are only allowed in by invitation and you must have a turnover of over £20m. Why is this? On their website they say it is “to ensure that they have appropriate resources to be involved in FTO”. What does this mean? There are many operators out there with a turnover under £20m who are very solvent and secure. It hardly helps the industry to have a trade body that exempts new and smaller businesses.
Today, the FTO said they had drafted a new code of practice covering land transport. This is exactly the sort of thing that would be really useful for smaller operators, as it is a real minefield. Should there be child seats on coaches? What do you do in countries where there are still no seat belts on coaches? How do you vet taxi companies? What are good policies for resort staff driving? etc.
These are the sort of things ABTA and the FTO should be helping operators with and publishing. By providing industry-wide guidelines that members of ABTA should adhere to, it would give people more reason to book with a member of ABTA.
But the FTO will keep the guidelines internal and possibly offer them for sale for non-members at a huge cost with no opportunity for follow-up. At a time when most organisations are becoming more open, the FTO seems as closed as ever.
Maybe I’m being harsh on them, let me know if you think so.
