YNOT EUROPE – Citing a declining membership, rising costs and falling revenues, the UK’s Adult Industry Trade Association will cease operating March 31, the managing committee announced this week.

A formal announcement indicated much of the decision was based on the results of a state of the industry survey conducted by Love Bytes for AITA late last year. The survey found that although nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of respondents felt the industry should maintain a trade organization to represent its interests, less than one-third (32 percent) considered AITA effective in that role.

Other significant findings included:

• 53 percent of respondents felt the biggest threat to the adult industry is the industry itself.
• 61 percent of respondents indicated effective self-regulation by the U.K. adult industry is the only way to prevent future legislation.
• Performers who responded indicated medical assistance is among the most important services a trade group can provide. Overwhelmingly, surveyed performers supported the AITA/UKAP health protocols.
• 60 percent of non-member respondents were aware of AITA. Only 11 were unaware of the organization before taking the survey.

“With the limited resources available to AITA, it did not come as a surprise to learn that the majority of current members felt that AITA is underperforming in its provision of key services when considering their relative importance,” the formal statement noted. “It is clear that this cannot be addressed without a significant injection of cash.

“AITA has significantly reduced its running costs over the last three years; however, with corresponding decreasing subscriptions, [AITA] has been running at a significant loss since at least 2010.

“Due to the lack of ongoing support for AITA from the general U.K. adult industry, and after much deliberation, the committee believes that it is no longer tenable for AITA to continue after the end of the membership year (March 31), and all committee members will resign on that date and the company close down,” the statement concluded. “The committee would like to thank all members for their support over the years. [Individual committee members] will continue to work to support the U.K. adult industry where they can, offering ongoing advice in their particular area of expertise and continuing to network at adult industry events.”

The organization’s website is AITA.co.uk.