The recent spat amongst some of the associations have come as a rude shock of misplaced priorities, i.e., ‘the revival of tourism and hospitality sector in a post-Corona-19 world.’ The oldest and the elites, like TAAI, TAFI and IATO, have indulged in war of words on issues which could otherwise have been addressed in a mature way. It would only result in diverting the attention and resources from the pandemic and deepening the agony that the sector is faced with today.
Needless to say that tourism & hospitality sector across the world is foremost affected due to the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Need of the hour for industry associations is to show solidarity in their fight against the pandemic’s effect on the sector.
However, the recent spat amongst some of the associations have come as a rude shock of misplaced priorities, i.e., ‘the revival of tourism and hospitality sector in a post-Corona-19 world.’ The oldest and the elites, like TAAI, TAFI and IATO, have indulged in war of words on issues which could otherwise have been addressed in a mature way. It would only result in diverting the attention and resources from the pandemic and deepening the agony that the sector is faced
with today.
We are talking about country’s prominent travel agents associations Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI). As per the audio recording circulated on social media platforms, three Delhi based travel agents were found involved in overcharging for a ticket on Vande Bharat Mission flights.
Though TAAI has taken a disciplinary action against the Northern Region Office Bearers, the episode has also brought India’s oldest travel association in direct conflict with its younger sectoral cousin. It has shot off a letter to TAFI and accusing that it’s few Gujarat based members have been trying to disrepute TAAI. TAFI has responded in kind and has accused TAAI of making it an issue of associations’ affiliation and deflecting the issue and skirting responsibility.
Whereas the matter should have been addressed jointly by senior members with maturity and enterprises as soon as it was reported in a section of media instead of writing uncompromising extraordinary letters.
Another issue involves country’s leading inbound representative Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and Kerala based Association of Tourism Trade Organisations of India (ATTOI). ATTOI has been recognised with ‘Safe Travels Protocols’ approved by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). However, not convinced with the idea of appointing ATTOI for WTTC’s Safe Travel Stamp accreditation, IATO– the national body of inbound tour operators of the country has written to WTTC demanding certain clarification.
This move of IATO has attracted different opinions within the membership of the association. Some members believe that it’s not fair to go against other associations who have been recognised by WTTC. If other tour operator associations, destinations and countries from across the world can take the Safe Travel Stamp by WTTC, why not IATO? Some also feel that instead of blaming others for own non-competence and ignorance, IATO needs to be more proactive in acting timely when opportunities like this arises, more so at a time like this.
IATO has played a significant role in representing inbound tour operators fraternity for decades and walked hand in hand with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. However, one cannot ignore that headquartered in New Delhi the lion’s share of its membership comes from Delhi NCR and metro cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
Needless to say that the travel trade associations (Regional Association) based out in other states of the country are working very closely with their respective Governments and getting things done for the industry stakeholders.It would not be appropriate to say that only Delhi and Mumbai based associations are the real one and have more rights and patronage as compare to the associations based in smaller cities.
In such circumstances, if a ‘National Association’ works in close co-operation with the ‘Regional Association’ it will give more power to the industry stakeholders. Also, the TAAI-TAFI issue is not that big to attract the headlines. There are a few fraudulent elements in every profession but they cannot define an entire association.
Whether it is IATO, TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI or any regional association like ATTOI etc. all are working with the sole aim to represent the stakeholders of this industry, addressing the challenges and expediting the growth of this sector. So, definitely this is the time to think out-of-the-box and go hand in hand to revive the tourism and hospitality business once again.
