Member of the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (ΗΑΤΤΑ)

Who is HATTA
HATTA, the Hellenic Association of Tourist and Travel Agencies, was established in 1927.
Since then, the Association contributes dynamically to the development and promotion of Greek Tourism, providing through its members a variety differentiated services that supports the country’s developmental efforts while upgrade the quality of the tourist services provided.
HATTA counts 1500 members all around Greece which employ approximately 1600 people. At the same time equally HATTA is the trade union with the aim to defend its member’s interests.

The members of HATTA
The regular members of HATTA are the legitimately operating tourist and travel agencies activated in all sectors of tourism such as:
-Incoming tourism
-Outgoing-domestic tourism
-Ticketing
-Tourist buses
Their activity includes both traditional and thematic forms of tourism as well as the organization of all kinds of events according the legislation in force. (L.393, L.2446, P.D. 339)
The associated members of HATTA are similar institutions, enterprises cooperating with tourist agencies [Hotels, Transportation Companies (Air Carriers, Shipping Companies), Computer Reservation Systems, Tourist Real Estate, Tourist Agencies Suppliers etc], which have common interests as well as a common mission and concerns for the tourism development.

HATTA Organisation
On a national level, HATTA’s members promote the tourist product thought out the country, according to the international standards.
On a national level, HATTA has developed branches in all Regions of Greece through its participation in regional, prefectural and municipal institutions (Tourist Directorates, Prefectural Committees of Tourist Promotion, Development Companies, Tourist Promotion Authorities) contributes to the promotion of local tourist resources and to the development of various fields of tourism (Conference Centres, Alternative Forms of Tourism).
Several thematic committees, of HATTA members under the supervision of the Administrative Board, have the task of monitoring the progress of each sector as well as to brief its members promptly and responsibly and to evaluate suggestions to the proper authorities.
HATTA is a founding member of Fed-HATTA, the Federation of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies which aims in unifying its efforts to those undertaken by the Local Associations and other institutions across Greece.

Representation Sector
-Member of the Greek National Council of Tourism
-HATTA is represented in the regional Appeal Committees
-HATTA is represented in the Prefectorial Committees for Tourism Promotion
-HATTA is represented in the Coastal Shipping Council.
-HATTA is represented in the Advisory Committee of Coastal Shipping Transport
-HATTA is represented in the Maritime Cabotage Regulatory Authority
-HATTA is represented in the Hellenic Organization of Standardization (ELOT)
-With HATTA’s initiative was created a share company “Hellenic Travel Force SA”, in which shareholders are members of HATTA.
-HATTA’s President Mr Yiannis Evagelou is a member of the Organization Committee of the Olympic Games.
-HATTA is a share holder of the Athens CVB, the Ionian Tourism Corporation (ITN) and other Convention Bureaus under establishment through out Greece.
-In APJC (Area Passenger Joint Council) of IATA (where travel agents and representatives of airlines, operating in our country, participate equally), 3 members represent HATTA from the part of the travel agents.

HATTA Collaborations on an international level
HATTA represents Greece in the following international and community institutions
-ECTAA (European Community of Travel Agent’s Associations). HATTA is a member of the Administrative Board and its representatives and experts participate in the special thematic committees (Air Matters Committee, Fiscal Committee, Legal Committee, Working Group on Incoming Tourism, Technology Committee)
-UFTAA (Universal Federation of Travel Agents’ Association)
-It is a founding member of the Federation of Travel & Tourist Association’s in the Balkan Region.
-BSTC (Black Sea Tourism Cooperation)
-HATTA has signed interstate agreements with equivalent Associations in other countries for the common promotion of international tourism and the bilateral tourist relationships.
-It collaborates with the competent national authorities on interstate and international relations and participates in mixed delegations, thus representing the sector of the Hellenic tourist agencies.
-It represents the sector of the Tourist Agencies at international meetings and other tourism-oriented events.

Activities
-HATTA exerts its influence on the authorities for the promotion of Tourism and the travel agencies sector.
-HATTA submits proposals, studies and memorandums and collaborates with international and national institutions on issues of tourism development.
-HATTA participates in all kinds of developmental, operational and social programs as well as events that promote Tourism.
-HATTA expresses its opinions and positions through press conferences, announcements, publications and meetings.
-HATTA signs collective labor contracts with the Associations of
-Travel agencies employees
-Tourist Guides
-HATTA collaborates with public institutions such as Insurance Funds, Insurance companies etc to ensure the most beneficial collaboration of its members.
-HATTA provides its members with legal protection and advice.
-HATTA updates on-line daily information on issues of circulars, resolutions and laws that directly concerns the Association’s members as well as on issues of business collaborations, fairs etc.
-HATTA operates a Training center authorized by IATA for the acquisition of IATA-UFTAA Foundation and Consultant Diplomas.
-HATTA carries out expertise training Seminars for its members and the people employed by tourist business.
-HATTA participates in national and international Tourism fairs in Greece and abroad.
-HATTA organizes events and meetings for the information and exchange of opinions on tourism issues.
-HATTA publishes “SYNDESMOS” (“Association”) magazine and participates dynamically in the field of the tourist journalistic events news.