July 12, 2016 TnH Global 0

TAAI-NR undertakes series of member-friendly initiatives

Members are visiting Sri Lanka from July 8 to 11.

Since their reelection in August last year, the office bearers of Travel Agents Association of India, Northern Region (TAAI-NR) have been working hard for their members. They are tirelessly raising the issues of their members and striving to enhance the potentials and productivity of their business. They have been organizing workshop/seminars to update their members of new opportunities. The last year TAAI- NR had taken a delegation of their 50 members to Dubai. The visit was well-appreciated by its members.

Continuing their efforts to bring new business opportunities to their members, a delegation of TAAI-NR is going to Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka from July 8 to 11, 2016. The next monthly meeting of the TAAI, NR will be held in Colombo. The delegation will compromise approximately 60 members.

“During the visit, our visiting members will have opportunity to interact with representatives of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board, Sri- Lankan Airlines, Sri Lankan travel trade, Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and hotels. The visit will provide a perfect opportunity for the visiting members to gain insights of tourism potential of Sri Lanka, understand the destination closely and establish relationship with the local trade and hotels,” informed Rajan Sehgal, Chairman, TAAI-NR. He added that Sri Lanka is fast emerging as an attractive tourist destination that offers a golden business opportunity for agents.

Talking about the visit, Neeraj Malhotra, Honorary Secretary, TAAI-NR said, “It is a meeting-cum-education tour for our members. Through this visit we want to educate our members about new destination and products and help them discover new avenues of business. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country emerging as a favorite destination among global discerning travelers. The island nation is our neighboring country and has strong historical and cultural relations with us. Indians would love to visit the island nation if we promote it properly.”

With few airlines paying commission to travel agents on the sale of tickets, ticketing business has lost its sheen among agents. Now it is important for agents to diversify their business. Promoting destinations and selling holiday packages could be one important way to diversify their business. Sehgal further informed that SriLankan airlines has offered special airfare to the visiting members. The members will have opportunity to see tourist attractions and facilities in and around Colombo. During the visit, representatives of Sri Lanka Tourism Board and SriLankan Airlines will hold meeting with the visiting members and make presentation to them.

TAAI-NR is continuously taking up the issues of agents with the government. When others have given up, TAAI-NR is still fighting for the restoration of commission and credits to travel agents and has sought the intervention of the Government and formulation of policies and laws by it requiring domestic and foreign airlines operating in India to pay commission. “It is our right to get commission for the services we provide to airlines, but they long ago stopped giving commission to us. We request the Government of India, particularly, Ministry of Civil Aviation to address our long-standing issue of commission through legislation as the governments of our neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan and also the governments of countries like Israel have told airlines to pay the rightful due of the travel agents by giving them their Commission,” said Malhotra.

In another important initiative, TAAI-NR is planning to organize a regional meet for the benefits of its members, most likely in the month of November this year. According to Sehgal, this will be a one-and-half day event to be held in Delhi. This will be a landmark initiative in the history of the Indian travel trade because so far no regional chapter of any Indian travel trade association has organized such meet. Sehgal also informed that TAAI-NR is also planning to join hands with Industry bodies like FICCI, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the organizer of India’s Vintage Car Rally to host next Heritage Tourism Conclave and Vintage Car Rally together, which will enhance the value proposition of the both events.