ATIA's board signs Dean Long for another three years
The Australian Travel Industry Association has extended the term of chief executive Dean Long by three years. Chair Christian Hunter confirmed the agreement at Beyond Borders in Melbourne on 9 October 2026.
“We’ve just entered into the new agreement that should see him connected to the association for at least the next three years,” Hunter told delegates.
The term ends in October
Long took the top job in 2021 on a five-year term. That term ran to October 2026, the month the board signed the new agreement.
Project A30 runs to 2030
Hunter placed the extension against Project A30, the association's five-year framework to 2030. ATIA's own A30 page lists three pillars: business growth and support, advocacy and industry representation, and accreditation and trust.
Tour operators hold their own division
ATIA absorbed the Council of Australian Tour Operators as a division in 2026. Hunter said the expanded structure gives tour operators, wholesalers, corporate travel businesses and independent agents a stronger voice in industry decision-making.
The association launched the Independent Travel Agents Association in 2025 and merged with the Association of Travel Management Companies the same year.
Accreditation targets 72 hours in 2027
ATIA is overhauling its accreditation process. The association targets a turnaround of 72 hours on applications in 2027.
The advocacy year
Hunter listed the association's interventions over the past year. They include Fiji's proposed retrospective tourism tax, international aviation disruption and work to hold down regulatory costs for members. He named one campaign that did not land, the proposed credit card surcharging reforms.
Long told delegates that ATIA had invited the Reserve Bank of Australia to Beyond Borders. “We did invite the RBA to come here today. They declined. Not sure why,” he said.
The surcharging ban came out of the RBA's review of merchant card payment costs. The RBA briefed stakeholders, ATIA included, on 31 March 2026, and the ban took effect on 1 October 2026.
Member data goes free
Long used the same address to open ATIA's new website and its data dashboards. The dashboards carry airline sales, passenger movements and aviation capacity, and the association gives members free access to them.