TravTalk India Online Magazine
It recently conducted an exclusive session with India Tourism on benefits that travel agents can gain access to by registering with Union Ministry of Tourism. Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI says travel and tourism sector kept going due to lucrative domestic market, which is huge segment.
Hazel Jain
The main focus of the year-end chapter meeting that Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Western India, organised in Mumbai recently was domestic tourism, in which the federation had specially invited India Tourism to talk about the various schemes under the Ministry of Tourism.
Addressing the meeting, Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, said, “India’s domestic market is huge. If we do not use this opportunity now, we will be wasting it. If you remember, during the 2007-08 economic meltdown, it was just domestic tourism that kept us going. The same has been the case during this pandemic. And while this is new for many of our members, it’s a huge segment and we would be foolish not to capitalise on it. The ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ has been a phenomenal success and we must try and leverage it.”
Adding to his views, Jitul Mehta, Chairman – Western India, TAFI, said, “We have decided to focus more on domestic tourism. We are working closely with India Tourism to ensure members get the benefit. This Mumbai event has been specifically focused on this, and we have invited all six domestic airlines to interact with our members, along with key hotel brands.”
Representatives from Air India, Vistara, Air Asia India, Go First, Indigo and Spicejet, along with top hotels like Taj Hotels, ITC Hotels, Marriott Hotels and Oberoi, were also present.
“We will keep urging members to register with the MoT, as there are many schemes that will be made available to them once they do so,” Mehta said.
Venktesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (West & Central Region), India Tourism, Mumbai, Ministry of Tourism, gave a presentation on ‘Recognition of Tourism Service Providers by the Ministry of Tourism’ (revised guidelines w.e.f. 28.11.2020). He urged all present to apply for recognition and outlined the benefits. “India is such a vast country. Throughout my career, I have always said that India is not a country, it’s a continent. We don’t have to go to another country for anything. At this point, when travel is severely restricted, we should explore and support our own industry,” he said.”We are waiting for the virus threat to abate, so we can do more physical events with the travel trade,” he said.
Non-refundable fares
TAFI will also take up the issue of non-refundable fares charged by some airlines with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Many members of the federation have expressed their irritation with airlines, which have made a lot of fares, including Business Class fares, totally non-refundable – disregarding even the claims of persons affected by COVID. Prakash said that TAFI would take up the issue strongly with the airlines and the DGCA.
