TravTalk India Online Magazine
Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) embarks on a transformative journey under its new leadership. With a member-first agenda, focus on technology, and plans to celebrate 75 years of legacy in 2025, the association aims to empower its members, tackle industry challenges, and ensure sustainable growth.
Surbhi Sharma
Sunil Kumar, newly-elected President of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Co-founder & Commercial Head, AirRetailer, outlines a vision to redefine the association’s role in the travel ecosystem. “With the travel and tourism industry contributing over 6 per cent to India’s GDP, the significance of this sector cannot be overstated. However, challenges persist. In a dynamic industry like ours, change is constant. From evolving technology to shifting market dynamics, members face ongoing challenges. TAAI’s role is to be a steadfast partner, offering support, fostering collaboration, and ensuring our members are equipped to adapt and thrive,” Kumar said.
Key focus areas
He said that TAAI’s key focus areas include sustainability and growth to ensure long-term resilience in operations, education and training to keep members updated with industry trends and technologies and collaboration, and strengthening ties between members and key stakeholders, including government bodies and airlines. “Our overarching goal is to enhance TAAI’s relevance and support systems for members, ensuring they can address challenges effectively and seize new opportunities,” he added.
Three-point agenda for 2024–26
Speaking about his three-points agenda, Kumar said, “Our motto is ‘Member First Approach’. We aim to address member expectations and challenges comprehensively. Members invest their time and resources in TAAI, and it is our duty to provide value, relevance, and tangible benefits in return. This includes tailored support systems, forums for addressing member concerns and enhanced member engagement to ensure their voices are heard.”
He added, “Secondly, we believe that technology is the game-changer for the travel industry. However, adopting it can be expensive and daunting. TAAI is committed to exploring affordable, technology-driven solutions to help members enhance their online presence and operational efficiency. By making technology accessible, we aim to future-proof our members’ businesses and lastly, as TAAI approaches its 75th anniversary in 2026, we are planning a year-long celebration to honour our legacy and achievements in early 2025, one year ahead to ensure the initiative grows with relevance and get transitions into a significant industry event. This milestone is not just a celebration of the association’s journey but a reflection of the growth and evolution of India’s travel industry. Our focus will be on showcasing our history, fostering partnerships, and preparing for a future of continued excellence.”
First steps towards change
Kumar said, “Since assuming office, we have hit the ground running and launched immediate initiatives, such as strategic workshops; within the first month, we organised a two-day workshop in Hyderabad with 65 regional and chapter leaders. Together, we brainstormed strategies for the 2024–26 term, member support systems; we initiated the launch of a tax cell to provide guidance on GST, TCS, and other financial concerns, airline relations; building stronger bridges with airlines has been a priority.
Addressing challenges
The travel and tourism industry faces hurdles in one or the other form, said Kumar, adding that from airline insolvencies to technological disparities, the road ahead is demanding. Therefore, to address those challenges the key initiatives that we need include risk management, reviving insurance as a reliable form of financial security, establishing specialised committees for tourism, technology, taxation, and member development to identify and resolve challenges pro-actively, he noted.
