There is no doubt that the first year of my being President at TAAI has been busier than what it would have been in the normal times. However, it has been extremely challenging yet oddly satisfying also for I feel that today TAAI is looked up to as an association with not just stellar governance but also one with a vision and the knowhow to achieve the same. This one year has offered me a new learning experience wherein I have evolved, not just as a leader but also as a person. My close interactions with the members of my association and the government has helped me understand the situation and shortcomings of both the sides better. The numerous rounds of meetings with the Government, be it Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism, Niti Aayog or the Finance Ministry helped us in achieving some desired results, such as RTPCR Testing at airports, removing the quarantine rule, opening up of air bubbles, getting agents to book Air India repatriation flights tickets and more. We also connected with various Embassies and State Tourism Ministries – all to get our pleas heard and arrive at a mutually beneficial conclusion. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that TAAI, in the last one year, has earned a new respect and standing in the corridors of power and we are now consulted separately by the government either while drafting policies or taking decisions.
While we have achieved success on various fronts, the long road ahead to recovery is definitely tough. All businesses – be it big or small have been hugely affected in the pandemic and even after the vaccine will be out, the travel industry will take about two years to reach complete recovery. The fact that we received no moratoriums, reliefs, incentivisation, taxes/TCS, ease of business, no bailout package has further deteriorated the condition of the travel agents in India.
Going forward, my aim is to diligently work towards safeguarding the businesses of the travel agents, form ways and means so that there is ease of business, create better and stronger relationship with IATA, DGCA, MoCA, MoT and most important get tourism sector the much deserved and much delayed Industry Status. I would also work towards getting insurance on tickets booked by the travel agents. What we need is a travel and tourism task force under our PM, which is inclusive of all travel tourism and hospitality related ministries – Finance, Shipping, MSME, MoCA, MoT, Niti Aayog, Rural, Railways, Transportation, MSDE & more so that there is better understanding and coordinated approach towards handling the issues related to the tourism sector.
One of our major concern and top priority at the moment is TCS, which we have been taking up on war footing with the Government individually and along with FAITH as well. It is added burden upon the travel agents and we at TAAI are rooting for its complete removal. While the last few months have been extremely demotivating, we at TAAI have been successfully conducting Educational Webinars with tourism boards, hoteliers, holiday planning companies, DMCs, visa facilitators, Tax Consultants on MSME / GST, etc. in our endeavour to keep our agents informed and increase their knowledge.
I am forever grateful to the support and encouragement of my members, who have stood by me through these tough times. Infact, I can humbly concede that the TAAI members are extremely relieved to have someone voice their concerns so strongly at all platforms. I have left no stone unturned in fighting for their rights and I will continue to do so. Being a woman leader, I aim to herald an era where more women are promoted and supported to perform to the best of their ability.
