From the American Society of Travel Agents, Inc. (ASTA)The ICANN staff has concluded
that IATA has not demonstrated that it would broadly represent the travel industry.
ASTA, after lengthy discussions with IATA is convinced that it can represent industry
interests with its newly proposed board. IATA has assured ASTA that no travel
industry segment will have veto power and that all segments will be fairly represented
on the board. The board, not IATA or its owning carriers, will decide the criteria
for receiving the .travel TLD. It is because of the assurances that IATA will
follow a democratic process for development of criteria and ultimate governance of
the .travel TLD that ASTA changed its position from opposition to support.
IATA’s change in its proposal for the governance of the .travel TLD was not widely
circulated to the travel industry because of the short time frame allotted.
ASTA is confident that once the industry is made aware of its latest proposal many
of the objections will be overcome.