‘We don’t want credit shells’
Jyoti Mayal, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), shares that they have suggested to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to come up with a win-win solution for both airlines and agents, so each can brave the impact of COVID-19 on their busines
Claiming that this was the first time TAAI, as an association, could make a representation to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA),
Jyoti Mayal said, “We have been trying to put it across to them that we are an industry and as much a part of the tourism industry as the airlines are. Tourism and aviation are interdependent. Both airlines and travel agents depend on each other for business, hence, we have requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to look at a solution that is a win-win situation for both. We don’t want airlines to go out of business, but also want to save our businesses. While airlines across the world are seeking monetary support for their survival, they should not be holding back the agents’ or customers’ money, which is lying with them as per advance bookings. They should refund the agents and customers, instead of giving credit shells.”
She added that while airlines are seeking bailout packages from their governments and some of them are even getting it, why is there a problem with the airlines to return the booking amounts given by the agents and even customers directly. “We are asking the government that our rightful money comes back to us. We don’t want credit shells. We need money back for the bookings we have given to airlines, group advances to international airlines and other partners. That money rightfully belongs to our members and the customers. We don’t need excuses for not getting it back, just because the airlines are struggling. We are part of that struggle as well as our own. Hence, we need to sit down and work towards a win- win situation for both,” she asserted.
Claiming that MoCA has been positive towards their suggestions, Mayal said, “The ministry is supporting us in a lot of ways. However, we are looking for quicker results. Today, we are struggling to pay our salaries, our dues, interests and fixed costs to our establishments. This is the same across the industry, from hotels, travel agents, tour operators and adventure tour operators to M! CE operators and other service providers. We are all struggling with our overhead expenses. Hence, we have asked the government for statutory waivers, relief from GST, and TCS being resolved.”
Working for members
Claiming that they are doing a lot for the members, she informed, “We are trying to put the right perspective into our webinars and motivate them. We have regular meetings with all concerned ministries and other trade bodies to share inputs and put our requests to the government. We are also sharing inputs on how we should start with domestic tourism and what policies we can make to take tourism forward. We have also been collecting data for the ministries to see the real problem at hand, since it’s an unorganised sector and getting the correct data has been a big challenge. We are trying to re- invent and re- establish ourselves.”
Sicily has already started to think of its tourism revival. The island has said it will cover half of flight costs and a third of hotel expenses for travellers wishing to visit, as well as free tickets to many of its museums and archaeological sites.
We need money back for the bookings we have given to airlines, group advances to international airlines