Uphold ethical practices
In the light of some recent cases where travel agents and tour operators were reprimanded for unfair practices, asks associations how agents should be regulated to curb fraudulent activities.
We have taken up this issue very seriously and are debating on how we can make our members adhere to the standards and ethical practices. We have invited our members to come forward to give their valuable suggestions and implement them. OTOAI has a very strict criteria, which one has to complete to become it’s active member and we are contemplating to make it stricter while debating the issue with our members and other stakeholders. We are dedicated to develop and promote the highest ethical and professional standards in the travel and tourism industry and aim to foster an environment of collaboration with various stakeholders through our ideology of collective ambition. We want that stringent laws and strict enforcements be made against such tour operators by the government as they bring bad name to our industry and also to our country’s image. I can talk about our IATO members only. All our members are approved only after strict scrutiny and reference of two known existing members while applying for the membership. They have to follow a Code of Conduct which sanctifies integrity and honesty in business operations. If the fraudulent operations are reported in the media, then these are not about IATO members. As per the bylaws of TAFI, we have strict procedures to tackle any travel agency which may be involved in fraudulent activities. We suspend the membership and give a show-cause notice further to which if the association is convinced of the innocence then the membership continues otherwise terminated. We have not experienced any such incident in the past as TAFI has strict regulations when empanelling members into the association. However, many a times agents are charged of dodging taxes but we know, as travel agents, that the issue arises out of failure to follow proper procedure when submitting documents, resulting in an assumption that a fraud has been committed. In such situations, as an association we defend and support our members if they are harassed by the government but at the same time pull up the members who are proven to be involved in unfair practices of the trade. There have been fraudulent activities by travel agents and service providers and many a times, we have seen foreign tourists being subjected to a lot of harassment, which gives a bad name to the country as a tourism destination, especially in a social media age. It is not limited to travel agents, but several hotels, resorts, transport companies and adventure operators, commit and promise a lot more, but deliver quite less. There is an urgent need to bring all service providers in tourism and hospitality sector under regulation and accountability. No one, who is not recognised by Ministry of Tourism or licensed by appropriate authorities should be allowed to indulge in tourism activities. It is very important for service providers to be upright and ethical as short delivery by them may cost the destination dearly. In India the travel agents and tour operators are not an organised sector. It is high time that steps should be taken by the authorities concerned to lay out certain rules and regulations to be complied with. Fraudulent activities have an adverse effect on the tourism industry. Both centre and state governments should take steps like enforcing Tourism Act, setting up tourism police force etc., so that, some regulatory and enforcement measures are in place to monitor the working of the agents, making them accountable to the tourists.