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ATIA Urges Travellers to Book Only with Accredited Agents Following Travel World Sydney Case

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is reminding consumers to always book through ATIA Accredited travel businesses, following the guilty plea of Travel World Sydney Director Zahra Rachid, who has admitted to eight counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception involving more than $77,000.
 
The offences related to eight customers who booked flights and holidays between 2023 and 2024.
 
Travel World Sydney’s accreditation was cancelled in July 2019 after the business failed to meet renewal requirements, including the provision of financial documentation.
 
ATIA Accreditation: Australia’s Gold Standard in Travel Trust
The ATIA Accreditation Program is the largest and most trusted accreditation scheme for travel businesses in Australia.
 
Accredited members must meet rigorous financial, ethical and professional standards. Of all applications, 16% are rejected each year, reflecting the program’s strong oversight and commitment to maintaining consumer confidence.
 
Quotes from ATIA CEO Dean Long
“There’s no place in our industry for fraud or criminal behaviour.”
 
“No one like this is welcome in our industry. We hope the penalty reflects the seriousness of the offences and that the book is thrown at this individual.”
 
“This case serves as a reminder of why travellers should always look for the ATIA Accredited symbol when booking their travel. Accreditation demonstrates that a business meets strict financial, ethical and professional standards and is subject to ongoing oversight. It’s about trust, transparency, and accountability, the core elements consumers deserve.”
 
“The overwhelming majority of Australian travel businesses operate with integrity, and ATIA Accreditation helps ensure those high standards are maintained and makes it really easy for consumers to know who to book their travel through.”
 
“Anyone who is not accredited is making it difficult for consumers to find businesses they can trust, which is why we encourage all travel businesses to take immediate steps to become accredited.”