Free admission to next year’s NATAS fairs, rentals to fall

[CityFarmer]

Competition is a best way for fair deal to consumers...

Free admission to next year’s NATAS fairs, rentals to fall

SINGAPORE — Admission to the two mega travel fairs held by the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) next year will be free — the first time since a fee was introduced in 1988.

Booth rentals for its exhibitors will also be reduced by about 18 to 22 per cent, which it hopes would mean better deals in terms of discounts for consumers, the association said yesterday.

The announcements come on the back of a boycott of NATAS’ March fair next year by 24 outbound travel agencies, over a lack of transparency in how NATAS used proceeds from the fairs, and the association’s refusal to lower booth rentals and admission fees for the twice-yearly fair.

The 24 agencies, which include industry heavyweights Chan Brothers Travel, CTC Travel, Dynasty Travel and SA Tours, also announced plans to hold a rival fair on the same dates — with free admission.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/fre...ntals-fall

[brattzz]

Agreed!

That is why there must always be competition!!

Especially so in government!

[CityFarmer]

Agreed!

That is why there must always be competition!!

Especially so in government!

In theory, yes, but in actual fact, it might be too expansive to install competition.

E.g. OpenNet is monopoly in supply of fiber broadband. It needs much more than 700 mil (IIRC, the government subsidy budgeted) to create a direct competition.

[CityFarmer]

Without the key players, NATAS performance is unlikely the same as before...

NATAS brings forward travel fair dates

SINGAPORE — The popular March mega travel fair organised by the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) will be brought forward to between March 6 and 8 next year, said a senior NATAS official in a circular distributed to the association’s members and industry colleagues that was obtained by TODAY.

This move comes after 24 travel agencies pulled out of its March fair next year and said they would be running their own rival fair, the Outbound Travel Fair, from March 27 to 29, the same dates that the NATAS fair was initially planned for.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/nat...fair-dates

[CityFarmer]

The 24 outbound travel agencies are the top 24 market players, IIRC. Let's see the performances of NATAS this year without the "24". I guess NATAS may not disclose the detail, due to "confidential or non-disclosure agreements" again...

Agencies' claims have created 'untrue image' about NATAS, says association

SINGAPORE — It is “regrettable” that some of its members have made various claims about the association which has caused “great dismay and concern” amongst members, the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) said in a press release today (Dec 9).

This has created an untrue image in the public’s perception of NATAS, and while the association has no objection to members getting together to hold an alternative fair, it has to “repudiate any wrongful depictions” made against it, NATAS added.

This comes just two weeks after it held a press conference dismissing the breakaway of 24 outbound travel agencies from its March NATAS fair. The agencies plan to hold one at the end of March and on the same initially planned dates as NATAS. But it was reported last week that NATAS decided to being forward its dates to the beginning of March instead.

At a press conference today, NATAS president Devinder Ohri said the members’ allegations of its lack of transparency have tarnished its image, but there are certain issues it cannot concede to, due to legal obligations or its responsibility to other members besides the outbound travel group.

He urged all parties involved to come together to resolve any remaining differences, stressing that the association’s door is always open to constructive and reasonable discussions at any time.

He also said the association’s decision to move its dates was a responsible thing to do as it wanted to avoid a clash and benefit all members. It has been very restrained in its comments and even now, does not want to go on an offensive against its members, he said. The new dates will be more advantageous as it is at the opening of booking season, he added.

He also said he is confident that NATAS’ two fairs next year will draw an equal, if not at least a 10 to 20 per cent increase in visitors.
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/nat...egrettable

[CityFarmer]

The key for "re-union" depends on the success of NATAS ex-"24" vs the "24". I admire the PR of the NATAS, and I guess it should come from a new management. Base on limited disclosure, the previous management has done a poor job, of "protecting" major stakeholders' interest.

Moving fair dates was the responsible thing to do: NATAS

SINGAPORE — The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) said it moved the dates of its travel fair earlier than those of a rival fair organised by a breakaway group of 24 members not because it had wanted to steal a march on the group or was afraid of losing in the match-up.

In the association’s second press conference on the squabble, which has dragged into its third week, NATAS president Devinder Ohri said moving the dates was the only responsible thing to do because the new dates would benefit everyone and would not inconvenience stakeholders, exhibitors and consumers. It was also a defensive gesture as the association did not want to burn bridges with the breakaway group, he added.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/mov...g-do-natas

[CityFarmer]

The result is pretty clear, who is the winner, and the future trend...

Rival travel fair receives more visitors than NATAS

SINGAPORE — The travel fair organised by a breakaway group of agents from the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) drew about 76,000 visitors at the end of the inaugural trade show yesterday.

While the figure was short of the 80,000 visitors the organisers had hoped for, it was higher than the crowd of 55,200 that visited the NATAS fair last month.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/riv...tors-natas

[safetyfirst]

Agreed!

That is why there must always be competition!!

Especially so in government!

In theory, yes, but in actual fact, it might be too expansive to install competition.

E.g. OpenNet is monopoly in supply of fiber broadband. It needs much more than 700 mil (IIRC, the government subsidy budgeted) to create a direct competition.

When we want cheap prices, we find reasons to say competition is good.

When we are afraid that the main political party lose votes, we suddenly say competition is less good.

Humans are just so interesting!

[CityFarmer]

When we want cheap prices, we find reasons to say competition is good.

When we are afraid that the main political party lose votes, we suddenly say competition is less good.

Humans are just so interesting!

Obviously, there is a price for the desired competition.

A Singapore with more than one SIA, more than one PSA, or more than one OpenNet, what a competition...

[specuvestor]

It is easy to evaluate cheap, not so easy to evaluate quality. Competition ushers in the former, but more subjective in the latter.

I think Singapore has more or less concluded our experimentation with market forces driving policies with pretty clear results. For example pegging HDB primary prices to "competitive" market price instead of segmentation as of times past is a joke that those cohorts that were in need and affected are not laughing about.

As the saying goes: Knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing.