The advice follows last week’s ATIA-organised gathering of 11 of the industry’s most significant suppliers to deliver direct, coordinated guidance to accredited agents and tour operators.
Across all supplier briefings, five consistent pieces of advice emerged for the ATIA member network:
- Don’t Panic-Cancel – Credits And Rerouting Are Available
Every touring operator at the forum has introduced or expanded flexible credit and rebooking options, most valid through to the end of 2027.
Refunds remain available as a last resort in most cases, but suppliers are actively working with members to retain bookings including by offering incentives, payment extensions and case-by-case flexibility to keep customers travelling.
- The Flight Problem Is Bigger Than The Destination Problem
For the majority of affected customers, the issue is not where they are going but how they are getting there.
With Gulf hub transit disrupted, customers bound for Europe and beyond are facing significant flight disruption even when their destination is completely unaffected.
Both airlines and touring operators represented at the forum have introduced proactive policies to help members find and fund alternative routing arrangements, and members are encouraged to explore these options before considering cancellation.
- War Is Excluded From Standard Travel Insurance – Set This Expectation Early
War and conflict are standard exclusions in Australian travel insurance policies across the market and this applies universally, regardless of insurer.
Members should be setting this expectation with clients early and clearly, before queries escalate.
Both insurers participating in the forum outlined proactive steps being taken to support affected travellers, and new products are in development to address coverage gaps that the current conflict has brought into sharp focus.
- Alternative Destinations Are Open, Available And Selling
Across all touring operators at the forum, strong booking uplifts were reported for destinations accessible without Gulf transit and overall forward sales remain ahead of the same period last year.
Members are encouraged to actively redirect affected clients toward these options. There is strong demand to be met, and most customers want to travel and they simply need guidance on where and how.
- Use Supplier Trade Portals – They Are Being Updated Daily
Every supplier at the forum directed members to their respective trade portals as the single source of truth on current policy.
The situation is evolving rapidly and in some cases policies are being updated multiple times per day so members should not rely on information more than 24 hours old.
BDM networks across all suppliers remain fully active and are the recommended escalation path for complex individual cases.
“These briefings gave our members direct, unfiltered access to the people making decisions in real time, so they could walk into every client conversation with confidence rather than uncertainty,” said Dean Long, ATIA CEO.
“Our travel agents and tour operators have been absolutely extraordinary through this period, managing complex situations, calming anxious clients and finding solutions that simply would not exist without their expertise.
“That is exactly what professional travel advice looks like, and that is exactly what this association exists to support.”
Access the supplier briefing recordings here
