TAFI (TN) Chapter's First Committee Meeting Gains Support From STB

ET&T Staff - Chennai

Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Tamil Nadu chapter and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) jointly organised the first committee meeting of TAFI in Chennai on November 3, 2004. The meeting was presided by chairman, N Ramji, secretary, H M Talha Rahaman, and treasurer A Basheer Ahmed. Two new members were inducted in the committee, A Sikkendar Badcha (Rasi Travels) and A Senthilkumar (Aswin Travels).

STB was invited to make a presentation to TAFI members at the first committee meeting, to provide an update on Singapore, in particular, the new Uniquely Singapore destination branding. STB also took the opportunity to share with TAFI members the latest product experiences in Singapore and the upcoming festive events for Christmas and New Year. Several TAFI members had expressed intent to set up new tours division and sought STB's assistance on how to develop tour offerings for their customers to Singapore.

The matter of TAFI Insurance Scheme for travel agents was discussed along with other travel related matters. The TAFI Tamil Nadu team assured their members that the insurance scheme would be finalised by the end of December 2004. "The premium amount for the insurance is 0.95 per cent of the total turnover of each travel agency. The insurance does not require the members to give collateral, which is a major advantage for the travel agents," expressed A Basheer Ahmed, treasurer, TAFI - Chennai.

"Currently 35 members in Chennai have taken up the insurance scheme organised by Bajaj Allianz Insurance Company and all applicants have been given the insurance status. At the all India level about 249 members have taken up the insurance," he said. The TAFI team is confident that all the members in Chennai will take up the insurance.