YET another development is brewing in the “battle of the fairs” between NATAS and several key outbound agencies in Singapore. NATAS has announced that its next travel fair will be held from March 6 to 8, three weeks earlier than initially planned, to avoid clashing with the rival event.
This move comes following the exodus of 24 outbound agencies from the 2015 NATAS Travel Fair, who decided to run their own Outbound Travel Fair on the same dates as the NATAS fair, due to unreconciled differences.
According to a circular sent out to its members on Monday, NATAS acting CEO Patricia Auyeong, wrote: “NATAS members may be aware that we have been continually working towards a single fair in March 2015. Regrettably, despite significant adjustments by NATAS, the other party is proceeding to organise their own fair.”
Auyeong added that admission to the two NATAS travel fairs at the Singapore Expo next year will be free. She wrote: “NATAS believes the (new) dates and venue to be most suitable for exhibitors and consumers alike. It will take place immediately after the 15th day of Chinese New Year and the weekend just before the March School Holidays. This opens the window for last-minute school holiday tour bookings.”
In response to the new dates for the NATAS Travel Fair, the working committee of the Outbound Travel Fair spokesperson, Alicia Seah, said they will “stick to the original plan to stage the fair at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre from March 27 to 29, 2015 at a central location attracting new market segments (those working in the CBD district) as well as all potential consumers with free admission to the event”.
Said Seah, who is also director of marketing communications at Dynasty Travel: “For the last decade, NATAS has not taken any initiative to address our issues raised and only in recent weeks did they make a few baby moves; these issues are not new.”
“(They) only did so under the pressure of the Outbound Travel Fair, so their sincerity in the long run is in doubt.
“Our only priority now is to ensure that our exhibitors and consumers get the best deal. We will not be distracted in our efforts to accomplish this mission,” she added.
