TAFI Convention 2007 Roundup

Kota Kinabalu gains from TAFI 2007 Convention

Reema Sisodia - Kota Kinabalu

If one would closely analyse the recently concluded Travel Agent's Federation of India (TAFI) Convention 2007 in Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia, the event proved to be a complete `advantage Malaysia' event. Tourism Malaysia's plan to leverage its inbound business from India by introducing this new region to the Indian travel fraternity proved to be a complete success in terms of showcasing an all new destination in Malaysia to a target audience that seems to be the most appropriate. Coming by the response and feedback received by most agents and operators at the venue, reaffirmed the fact that Kota Kinabalu will bring in inbound business from India into the region. Agents were sure this place will sell. At the event, chief minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, said the State Government encourages the private sector to venture into the hotel, resort and hospitality industry. Approximately RM3 billion have been pumped in by the government and private sector to develop Sabah's tourism industry over the last five years. This year the event also received a strong participation. There were approximately 800 plus delegates at the event.

Says Praveen Chugh, president, TAFI, "We are glad to receive a record number of participants at this year's convention. Our theme 'Drive the Change - Stay On Top', was also perfect keeping in view the present business scenario and the volatile environment in which the travel trade is passing through. The five business sessions where designed specifically to address the current problems and issues which is a concern for agents across the country."

The convention witnessed five business sessions in all, Business Session 1: Boom! Boom! Boom! - Myth or Reality, Business Session 2: Technology - Threat or opportunity , Business Session 3: Travel Agent - The Ultimate Solution, Business Session 4: Regulating the Regulator, Business Session 5: Talent Pool - Attraction and Retention.

Kapil Kaul, managing director, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (India) was the moderator for the first business session. The panelists were Dato Dr Munir Majid, chairman, Malaysian Airlines, Sunil Kishen, general manager, marketing and planning, Indian, Samyukt Sreedharan, chief operating officer, SpiceJet and Imtiaz Muqbil, editor, Travel Impact Newswires. Kaul predicted that airlines in India will continue to loose money and consolidation in the near future will help stabilise the situation. Profitability will guide the aviation scene in India. Majid on the other hand spoke about his airline and emphasised on product pricing. Kishen pointed out the issue of airline profitability and the problem related to operating costs and falling yields. Sreedharan also touched upon the issues of HR in aviation. Muqbil felt the airline boom is both a myth and a reality. In the second business session, the common theme that speakers expressed was that today, technology is a reality and the faster one embraces technology the better it is. Business session three moderated by Ajay Prakash, honorary secretary general, TAFI, said that today travel agents are an indispensable part in the chain and it is important that they look at new opportunities and move ahead in business. Session four was by far the most controversial of all, where the agent-airline relationship keeping IATA into picture was debated and questioned. IATA represented by Sunil Chopra, continued to maintain that they were there to support agents. "We work as facilitators in the business," he said. The last session addressed the problem of HR and trained professional in the business. Why the trade does not attract the right talent was being asked constantly.

In conclusion there are too many questions looming large. Conventions definitely help address issues and bring them to the forefront, but in reality what we need is real action that transcends just discussions and talks. Lets get moving and moving fast.