Mission Statement :

The World Association of Travel Agencies (WATA) is a worldwide organisation of selected travel agencies dedicated to the enhancement of the professionalism and profitability of member agents through mutual cooperation and global networking.   Its members are committed to the highest standards of business ethics and quality of service to clients

Code of conduct :

The aim of WATA is to be a worldwide network of agencies of which the quality is indisputable. This level of quality must be the characteristic of all WATA  members.

To reach this level of quality, all WATA members should adhere to the rules mentioned in the Code of Conduct. 

1. General rules applicable for transactions between WATA members, as well as between WATA members and non WATA members :
a) The services rendered by WATA members must be the most competitive in price for better, or at least equal, quality than that of their local competitors.
b) Replies to any request must be made without any delay.  The new technologies, such as e-mails or faxes let us expect quasi immediate answers.
c) All payments must be effected according to the usual practice of the trade or within the period agreed upon.
d) Payments outside the country of residence of the WATA members must be effected in the currency agreed upon by the parties concerned.  In case of exchange regulations applicable to intentional payments, it is the responsibility of the WATA member located in a country with such regulations to undertake all necessary steps to be able to meet the payment deadline agreed upon.

2. Special rules applicable to WATA members in their dealings with other WATA members :

When a WATA member has business for a certain destination, the WATA member of this destination must be given the opportunity to quote for such business.  If this quotation is not accepted, the reasons for the refusal must be communicated, if requested.
a) WATA members must give priority to the services offered by other WATA members in their business dealings provided that such services are similar in price and contents to those of local competitors.
b) Terms of payment between WATA members should be fixed by agreement.  However WATA members should benefit from the best facilities offered by the WATA members on the market.  Pre-payments should only be asked for when the amount involved in the transaction is in excess of the WATA guarantee or when the servicing agency has to pay a deposit to secure the transaction.

3. Relations between the WATA members and the WATA headquarters
a) Each WATA member must inform the entire staff about WATA and one or two persons should  be designated in each office as WATA contacts.
b) The invoices sent by the Headquarters must be paid within 30 days.  In case of currency regulations applicable to international payments, if such regulations impose a longer delay the proof that the transfer has been requested immediately must be submitted to the headquarters.
c) Information of any nature requested by the headquarters must be supplied without delay.

To achieve the desired promotion of the WATA name, each member must :
- Print the WATA logo at least on his letter-head, vouchers, tariffs, e-mails, visit cards
- Include WATA logo and link to WATA website on his personal websites
- Clearly display the WATA emblem in his office
- Promote at any occasion WATA and in particular with all partners of the travel trade of his city or region.