kabarsula ATIA’s Modern Slavery Collaboration draws growing member support bandar SLOT INDONESIA

A growing number of travel businesses are tapping ATIA’s Modern Slavery Collaboration – many of them voluntarily – as the industry moves to get ahead of consumer expectations on human rights risks.

While businesses with annual consolidated revenue above $100 million must report on modern slavery risks in their international supply chains, many ATIA members below that threshold are also engaging in the process.

The Collaboration builds on the industry-first consortium established by Intrepid Travel and Flight Centre in July 2023, and forms part of the member support commitment under Project A30.

It offers compliance support for larger members, shared learning between large and small operators, curated toolkits and updates from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe, and a forum run under clear competition law guidelines.

At its most recent meeting this month, members heard from Gary Shaw, a former New Zealand Police detective and international modern slavery expert who investigated human trafficking undercover across 12 countries. He spoke on the risks to travel, tourism and related industries, and took questions on continuous improvement and collaboration.

Other presenters to the Collaboration have included the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in Vietnam, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) Australia, the Australian Red Cross Support for Trafficked People Program, Accor director of sustainability David Young, and University of Tasmania researchers.

The Collaboration has also been featured in the Office of the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Maximising Impact: A guide to business collaboration resources, which highlight the value of collective action in helping travel businesses share knowledge, assess supply-chain risks and strengthen prevention and reporting.

ATIA director of public policy and advocacy Ingrid Fraser said travel businesses were taking on the issue because they wanted to lead and travellers expected it.

“Larger entities have to report. Many others do not, but they are taking steps anyway. They deserve credit, and they should not have to work it out alone in complex international supply networks,” she said.

“We work directly with members and subject matter experts on the practical side: how you identify risk, assess it and act when you find it. Our pathways work whether you are lodging a statement or starting from scratch.”

ATIA Modern Slavery Collaboration project manager Robin Mellon said members learned from experts such as Shaw, who has “worked these cases on the ground”, and shared what was working with each other.

“That builds capability across the industry,” Mellon said. “Travel is confronting one of the largest challenges it has faced, and the openness that participating members bring to the table is invaluable. They talk candidly about what is working and where they need help, and that honesty lifts every business in the room.”