NATAS is roping in two industry veterans to head its secretariat and the Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS) to tackle ongoing challenges.
Singapore Airlines veteran Steven Lek joins as executive director on June 15, while Yap Puay Beng, a name synonymous with Mansfield Travel and who was on the founding committee of the Centre for Tourism-Related Studies as TMIS was called previously, returns as executive director.
NATAS is still in discussions with Yap, a spokesman said, adding that a full announcement on their roles will be made soon.
The trade TTG Asia e-Daily spoke to welcomed the news and expressed optimism that NATAS will be able to repair the fracture in its outbound fraternity and address members’ issues.
Major outbound tour members, led by SA Tours, rocked NATAS by announcing in late-November of their pullout from the NATAS fair and the formation of rival event Travel Revolution.
From an outbound perspective, Robin Yap, president-Asia, The Travel Corporation (TCC), which took part in both the NATAS fair and Travel Revolution, said a united front is better for most travel suppliers.
TCC’s Yap said Lek has years of experience negotiating and working with travel agencies and with him at the helm, NATAS has the opportunity to move forward to identify a common objective of serving customers in the right way.
“The objective is business and if the right ingredients are there, NATAS can showcase its commitment, continue to engage, and something can be worked out,” he added.
Meanwhile, NATAS has also been without an Outbound chairman or subcommittee since late-November and its spokesman said a number of members “have indicated interest” in the role. An announcement will come soon.
On this appointment, the TCC’s Yap said NATAS needs new blood and the outbound chairman must be able to lead a subcommittee with a strategy to address the challenges of new consumer buying patterns and to influence change.
Meanwhile, the NATAS outbound breakaway faction has now incorporated the newly formed Singapore Outbound Travel Agents Association.
The 12 pro tem members include SA Tours’ managing director Kay Swee Pin, Misa Travel CEO Wee Hee-Ling, and Konsortium Express and Tours executive director Lim Chin Chwee.
