Mr Otto de Vries, CEO of the Association of South African Travel Agents (Asata), recently presented a guest lecture to the BCom Honours students in Tourism Management. His lecture focused on the future of business and retail travel agents, and he assured students that there is indeed still a role to play for travel agents, even in an age where more and more travel bookings are done online.

The key to remaining relevant, he believes, is to become more client focused and deliver personalised service. He inspired and motivated the students by commenting on how valued and sought-after the skills are that they are being taught at the University of Pretoria. He added that they could indeed add value and bring forth much needed change in the South African tourism industry.

Established in 1956, Asata is a representative forum that aims to promote professional service in the travel industry for both members and their clients. Representing over 85% of the travel industry in terms of market share, including most of the major travel brands, Asata’s membership is entirely voluntary and includes South African retail travel agents, travel management companies, wholesalers and suppliers of travel-related products and services.