TAAI Newsline Volume 29 I April 2012 TAAI HAPPENINGS TAAI HANDED OVER AN APPEAL LETTER TO TOURISM MINISTER Members will be happy to note that Mr Mukesh Patel TAAI Chapter Chairman of South Gujarat met Hon ble Minister, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, on 25th April, in Vadodara and handed over a letter addressed to the Minister from TAAI.The letter was to draw the Minister's attention to various on - going issues dogging the travel and tourism industry, including various challenges awaiting to be faced by the travel agents from the airlines such as Service Tax (double taxation), Introduction of Weekly Settlement by the Airlines, Withdrawal of Credit Card Pass Through, Maintaining Web Parity / undercutting of Airfare by the Airlines, Commissions may be withdrawn and Introduction of Passport Seva Kendra. The letter humbly appealed for his kind intervention in these matters with the various Ministries involved. The Minister has agreed to look into matters and noted the contents of the letter. WESTERN REGION MEETING IN MUMBAI TAAI Western Region held its meeting on 10th April @ Joss in Mumbai. The Chairman, Mr. Jay Bhatia, updated the members on the Airlines matters, web parity, Credit card pass thru withdrawal of AI and refund policy of KF. There was a debate and discussion on implementation of weekly settlement by BSP. The TAC Chairman, Mr. Marzban Antia informed members on the issues of Kingfisher Airlines and other web parity issues and the reluctant behavior of the airlines. He also appraised the members to be prepared for the weekly settlement regime, although TAAI was in discussion with the airlines and BSP for the deferment of the same. The President, Mr. Iqbal Mulla got a overwhelming support from the members who, requested the President to fight against the implementation of weekly settlement and web parity. Members also insisted that the credit card pass through be permitted for issuance of tickets on the Agency Corporate Credit Cards. Members queries regarding new service tax rates and legislations were addressed by the TAAI consultant CA Manish Gadia of GMJ Associates. Advocate Bhupendra Chauhan was also present in the meeting who appraised the members on various cases that TAAI had filed with the Competition Commission, the Hon. Karnataka High court besides various other matters. A lot of senior members and leaders of the trade, such as Mr. GMJ Thampy, Mr. Ashwini Kakkar, Mr. Vinoo Ubhayakar, Mr. Sudhir Patil, TAFI President - Mr. Ajay Prakash, Mr. Ajay Bali etc. were present and gave their views and suggestions of how to work towards a better future and resolve the issues between airlines and the agents. The meeting was followed by a presentation by MSC Cruises on their ships and services made by their Vice President, Mr. Arjun Dasgupta along with Mr. Arvind Tandon of Faraway Places Marketing Pvt. Ltd. US VISA PRESENTATION FOR SR MEMBERS A US Visa presentation was held on 25th April 2012 at Hotel residency Towers Chennai for the benefit of Southern Region Members. It was a very vivid presentation done by Vice Consul Ms.Katherine E Reedy and Ms.VidyaSelvam from the Consul department. The members had various queries which were answered well by Ms Katherine who updated their knowledge about U S visas. "Members were happy to be a part of such an interaction. " said Chairman, Mr SARAVANAN. P 3