TAAI Driving Change: Empowering Members

With a renewed vision and dynamic leadership, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is charting a fresh course in strengthening the voice of India’s travel trade. Under the leadership of President Mr. Sunil Kumar R, TAAI has launched several strategic initiatives—from forming specialized Working Groups to launching TAAI DMC Connect and the Preferred Partner program. These efforts aim to engage more members in the association’s core functions, promote collaboration, and build stronger alliances across the tourism ecosystem. In this exclusive interview with Safari Plus, Mr. Kumar shares his vision, the motivation behind these changes, and how TAAI is gearing up for a more inclusive and impactful future.

Q) How do you see TAAI’s role evolving in the current travel landscape, especially in fostering collaboration among travel agents and tour operators across India?

The big challenge for India’s Travel & Tourism community, is a respectable visibility of “one-ness”. We are confusing the governments and authorities by acting independently and creating as many associations as locations. They are not even aware of whom they should connect with or reach out to. 

While we have over 90,000 agencies in India, that have supported the growth and management of Tourism; who have accounted for more than 8% of Indian employment (including hospitality); who have contributed to the GDP of India, and who have been largely responsible for GST & TCS collections, yet our voice is not heard.  We have failed on several occasions to have our suggestions – concerns – demands responded to.

Isn’t this ironic? This is not we deserve, with our size, intellect and broadband? Each of the associations struggle hard to make their presence felt; with a weak intra industry networking. Thousands of agencies are “direction-less” and some “clue-less”, on the trends coming up and the focus they need to invest. This situation can further deteriorate, if we cannot come up with a voice that can be heard, appreciated and responded to. 

TAAI, as the nodal, oldest, largest among associations that has grown up, under the aegis of the Government, can take up this responsibility to help create a landscape of collaboration among the stake-holders of India. We are ready and clearly geared up to work closely as well as collaborate closely with all. We have the industry expertise; seniority and long-standing experience of managing industry challenges and evolution.  

I often feel sad that our fragmented strength and independent agendas have reduced our impact, which otherwise would have immensely benefited our stake-holders and customers.  With a better-late-than-never approach, TAAI shall launch more initiatives to identify areas of collaboration and try to better the overall outlook of our industry.  TAAI welcomes other associations – big and small, to join together and forge an agenda for the development of the stakeholders of this growing industry.

Q) With global aviation and tourism undergoing rapid digital transformation, how is TAAI supporting its members to adapt and thrive in this changing environment?

It is clear. Indian agencies are not aggressive in adapting to the changing environment. Not because they don’t want to, but they consider the investment and effort to maintain what they create not commensurate with returns. Traditional practices dominate the scene. Younger companies, who have joined this space, have advanced far beyond the long-standing and established companies.   To thrive in this changing environment of digitization, there is little scope for our membership agencies to celebrate leadership positions of serving larger consumer groups and will have to only survive with their limited outreach. TAAI had initiated TAAI-Connect, a few years ago. One of our milestones on our journey to “The 75 years of TAAI’ is to offer some hand-hold in this area. We are in discussions and are hopeful of successful hand-holding.

Q) As both TAAI President and now UFTAA Global President, how do you plan to bridge international and domestic agendas to benefit Indian travel trade professionals?

TAAI & UFTAA are well connected. TAAI is one of the founder countries of this great organization UFTAA, during 1966, 59 years ago. Both organizations have agenda’s that have few common matters, as well as areas of uniqueness. A common agenda is “agency education on IATA matters” and “fair governance in favour of travel agencies”. Another agenda is to support networking between nations. 

The Indian Agenda is clear. We are a great nation that is unique and can better champion all three verticals – Outbound; Inbound & Domestic. Our economic advancement and enhanced people levels, financially, is a big boon to India. TAAI has played its leadership role as an association with the largest number of Tour Operators in all verticals and largest number of ticketing – MICE agencies. This will further grow and the current Managing Committee & our Chairpersons are committed to reach out to more. 

Since I currently head both organizations, I shall endeavour to support better meeting-points and more collaborative roles. That surely is possible. UFTAA recognizes India as a market that has high potential and fast growing travel & tourism leadership, it can offer, and thus respects “TAAI” for its roles. 

An important learning for TAAI or for INDIA, will be to learn from the leadership roles a few other associations of UFTAA, are currently engaged, particularly in relationship with Governments; benefits they are able to gain for their members; some industry governance including coordinating quality admissions into the industry as stake-holders and more.

Yes. 2025 & 2026 can surely focus on more collaborative roles for TAAI & UFTAA.

Q) TAAI has introduced Working Groups across multiple verticals to involve members more deeply—what inspired this structural change, and how do you envision it transforming the way TAAI functions?

Member-First program is what the current team is wedded to.  We cannot be successful unless we engage more members in the functioning of TAAI and the programs it undertakes. Another key goal is to develop a stronger second-line leadership. This has begun extremely well. We have atleast FIVE councils, inviting at least 20 leaders (one from each region/chapter) in each of its councils. Our current working strength of 13 Managing Committee Members; 60 Regional Officers (Chairperson; Secretary and Treasurers of 20 Regions & Chapters) is not over 160 members engaged. This is sheer MAGIC that you have 160 members, whose voice is heard. Surely. There will be more. We are committed to this.  As we debate; opine; share challenges and solutions; it makes our networking and learning more effective. TAAI belongs to its members, is what I have clearly announced. Thanks to my excellent committee and chairpersons, this has taken off well and we shall monitor it as we grow it. 

Q) Can you tell us more about the newly launched TAAI DMC Connect initiative and how it aims to enhance collaboration between members and domestic or international DMCs?

Deal with someone you can trust; our suppliers must be our members; offer TAAI and its members as an opportunity to high quality DMCs across the world and in India; make it convenient for our members to access the DMC of their choice, who is better known, are some areas, that will be most inspiring to our members and DMCs of the world and India.  As we evolve with this program, you will realize more vibrant and productive networking taking place. We will be able to also iron out challenges our members are facing with DMCs on commitment delivery and vice-versa.

Q) TAAI’s website revamp seems to be a key step in digital modernization—what new features can members and partners expect, especially in terms of visibility, connectivity, and resource access?

The website revamp is due. We are not the best of association websites. There is so much scope with higher levels of technology advancement. It is intended to expand the website with a platform to offer member identity and promotion.  

The website will be more often visited, for it can provide a connect with more parts of the world, with more trusted agencies that can support collaboration.