Considering the pivotal role that the sub-agents play in the travel industry and the abysmally disorganised manner in which it does so, Vyas Sivanand finds out whether the fraternity is making any initiative to bring some method into the madness...

The travel trade is dappled with scores of service providers for any given traveller. The travel agent is one among such service providers. At a macro level one can perceive an IATA approved travel agent and the customer, but on a micro level you will observe single brokers, sub-agents, approved travel agents, airlines/railways/rentals, and of course the customer. From a single man show to a well-established agency, sub-agents are in every nook and cranny of the travel business. Sub-agents can be defined as entities which are an integral part of the travel trade but do not necessarily have a streamlined operation. Thus the aspect of credibility is always in question. Merely being in the business for a long period cannot be an assurance of credibility. Financial constraints are put up as the obvious reason for not being what they really should be, a travel agency approved by the governing IATA body.

The Need For A National Association

Considering that sub-agents do play a pivotal role in the travel business in our country, it cannot be denied that there should be some kind of an initiative taken so as to form an organised sector out of them. In a research conducted across the country, Express Travel & Tourism found that in most parts of the country, sub-agents feel the need for forming a national association representing their rights and needs. This according to them will aid in streamlining the sub-agent fraternity’s operations. While there is scepticism in every mind about how to form a national association, there are serious doubts in minds about acceptability of such an association. "Nobody has taken any lead so far or come forward to form an association. It is an imperative to have a body to represent the problems to help and assist to grow," says Gayatri B N, executive director, M M Travels P Ltd, Bangalore.

There has been no initiation from any front for such a move, probably because forming an association of a totally unorganised sector across the country is an uphill task, which will definitely amount to more loopholes than solutions. "There is need for a national association but I do not think it is a feasible idea as there are a huge number of them and you never know who is genuine and who is a fake. Other than that I do not think an association of sub-agents will do any justice to its identity because it might hardly get any recognition," says Doreen Mel, director, Carona Hermes Worldwide Travels, Bangalore.

Says S K Gupta, director, Paradise Holidays, Delhi, "Even if there is no legislation in this regard from the government, the sub-agents need to realise their strength and importance and moot a self regulatory system which will benefit them as well as the industry." Sub-agents in Delhi welcome any action either from the government or from the industry. "Since much is not being done for us, any little step is welcome. Several industry associations had offered us memberships, which is appreciated, but it was not enough. There has to be a proper channel that helps smaller agents like us to grow and things will fall in place automatically when we get some impetus" revealed a noted non-IATA agent of Delhi.

Says Veena Nag, travel consultant, Ventours Travels, Mumbai, "The sub-agents as a group are one of the most important section of the travel trade but also the most neglected. The thought of setting up a full-fledged dedicated body or association of sub-agents would only give the fraternity the much needed strength and positioning. There are a host of problems which the sub-agents face, for which a strong platform in the nature of an association would work to its advantage giving the section voice. Working in tandem with each other is also a pertinent point which the fraternity members need to keep in mind. First and foremost there needs to be unity within the sub-agents’ group. The success of an association and the respect associated with it will only come if the members of the trade are unanimous about issues and topics to be discussed and proposed. An association will certainly give us recognition as we feel that it is important for the airlines and bodies such as the tourism boards to recognise and acknowledge our presence and our contribution to the trade. I would personally be glad to be part of such an association and would make the necessary efforts to bring about effective changes for sub-agents."

Inputs from Jyoti Koul, Delhi, Susan George, Chennai and Reema Sisodia, Mumbai