National Tour Association Makes a Comeback

The National Tour Association is seeing a growth in its tour operator membership, welcoming more new tour operator members during the first month of 2006 than it has since prior to the events of Sept. 11. The number of tour operator members joining NTA has been increasing since the 2005 Annual Convention in Detroit. Additionally, the association recently accepted three new countries to its membership, bringing the total number of nations represented to 31. "NTA began diversifying its membership several years ago in order to bring the variety of travel products consumers are demanding into the association," NTA Chairman and CEO Judith Thomas, CTP, said. "NTA is meeting its strategic goal of diversification. We are continuing to bring in additional business partners and find new ways to increase members' bottom line." NTA continues to broaden its representation in the marketplace, which includes tour operator companies specializing in unique product such as culinary tours, motorsports tours, adventure travel and family/multigenerational vacations. Those niche tour operators, along with others that package Biblical tours, youth soccer team trips and FIT, continue to expand the association's extensive and broad-based membership. Kazakhstan, India and French Polynesia are the latest nations to join NTA in 2006. NTA is committed to the continual development and strengthening of international affiliations, including inbound and outbound initiatives. "NTA is helping its members keep in step with consumer demand," NTA President Hank Phillips, CTP, said. "Consumers are looking for domestic and international vacations that are both experiential and unique, and NTA's progressive and forward-thinking members are delivering just that." The National Tour Association has a global membership of tourism professionals involved in the growth and development of the packaged travel industry. Its membership includes more than 600 tour operator companies - group, independent, inbound and outbound - and the destinations and suppliers that partner with them. The association is committed to providing business results and information to its members, while offering a collaborative, caring environment in which to build relationships. For more information, please visit www.NTAonline.com For more information Visit Group Travel Directory Source: Buzzle.com