About CATO

The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is a trade association representing the domestic and outbound land-supply sector of the Australian travel industry. Full Members are tour operators and wholesalers whilst Associate Members consist of tourist offices and travel related product and service providers.

Membership
Membership of CATO is a hallmark of competence and integrity for tour operators and wholesalers that supply travel product for Australians travelling all over the world.

CATO Full Members
Include Tour Operators and Travel Wholesalers that are participants in the CATO Accreditation scheme and must adhere to the CATO Member Code of Conduct.

Members support the distribution of product and services via retail travel agents and consumer direct through the production of printed brochures and electronic distribution.

CATO Associate Members
Include travel industry product and service Providers, tourist offices and industry professionals

The CATO Advantage
To assist in maintaining the highest possible product and service standards, CATO provides a forum for members to present their views and convenes regular meetings where members are updated on current issues and are able to raise subjects of mutual interest.

CATO acts as a representative body for its members and is in regular contact lobbying both State and Federal Governments issues directly related to the well-being of the land-supply sector.

CATO has established a Code of Ethics for members to consider in their dealings with the public, travel agents, carriers, other principals and fellow members.

CATO membership is a symbol of integrity and commitment. Our members are specialists who work in conjunction with licensed travel agents to make the customers’ journey, no matter how big or small, a better and safer experience.

History
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) was formed and incorporated as an independent association in September 1999.

Prior to the CATO incorporation Tour Operators were associated as the Australian Council of Tour Wholesalers (ACTW) which was a division of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).

CATO’s independence coincided with the restructure of AFTA in September 1999.

While Tour Operators and Wholesalers have a professional affiliation with Retail Travel Agents, their independence allows CATO to focus squarely on the specific issues related to them and their particular network. Today CATO is an industry hallmark and will continue to strive toward its goals.