Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI)

 

OVERVIEW

• Ø  The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) was established in 1986.
• Ø  TAFI is a non political, non commercial and not-for-profit association.
• Ø  TAFI’s has 1400 Active, Associate, Allied and Affiliate (Travel Service Intermediaries – Non IATA) members from all over India.
• Ø  A member of World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA).
• Ø  An Affiliate member of the Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA)
• Ø  Signed an Agreement with the Federation of Hoteliers and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) for the benefit of its members.
• Ø  Present President: acting president/vice president Pradip Lulla, Cupid Travels and Tours, Mumbai.

 

OBJECTIVES OF TAFI

ü  To protect the interests of those engaged in the industry, to promote its orderly growth and development, to safeguard the travelling public from exploitation by unscrupulous and unreliable so-called Travel Agents.

ü  To safeguard the interests of the travelling public and to maintain high ethical standards within the travel trade through better communications and awareness about regulations.

ü  To augment the development of the travel industry in India by consistent improvement in the standard of service and inculcate professionalism.

ü  To spread greater awareness and updated information on travel to efficiently cater to the needs of the travellers within India and overseas.

ü  To promote mutual cooperation among members of TAFI and thereby ensure healthy growth of the Travel Industry.

ü  To represent the travel agents trade before official bodies of Government, Airline bodies and other appropriate forums.

ü  To promote such schemes which would benefit the members of TAFI as well as provide mutually beneficial alternatives to the airline industry for better growth of travel.

ü  To safeguard the interest of the Travel Agents vis-a-viz service providers such as airlines, several consulates, several Government authorities.

ü  To ensure compliance of Rules, Regulations and Guidelines sent by the Consulates, Government Authorities, Airlines etc.

 

ORGNISATION STRUCTURE OF TAFI

The organisation is headed by president who is assisted by vice president.

ACTIVITIES of TAFI

Ø  Fosters fraternity among its members through regular fellowships.

Ø  Brings the different segments of the travel industry into its fold by offering memberships under different categories.

Ø  Educates and equips the members to meet the challenges of tomorrow through regular meetings, seminars and conventions.

Ø  Creates avenues for its members by signing MOUs with Tourism Boards like DTCM and TITC.

Ø  Works in tandem with several organisations like FICCI, CII.

Ø  Gains recognition by the Monitoring Panels by the Government of India

Ø  Represents Agency Programme Joint Council (APJC) and works closely with the Council of Airlines.

Ø  Maintains close contact with world bodies and represents matters affecting the travel industry of the country.

 

REGIONAL CHAPTERS OF TAFI

•       Andhra Pradesh
•       Chhattisgarh
•       Eastern India
•       Gujarat
•       Karnataka
•        Kerala
•       Madhya Pradesh
•       Northern India
•       Pune
•       Tamilnadu
•       Western India

MEMBERSHIP

The Membership of "The Travel Agents Federation of India is open to all persons who agree with the aims and objects of "The Travel Agents Federation of India (hereinafter referred as "the said Federation"). They shall have to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the said Federation.

Members of the Federation shall be classified into the following categories with or without voting rights in the manner prescribed by these rules and regulations.

1. Chartered Members
2. Active Members
3. Allied Members
4. Associate Members
5. Affiliate Members
6. Overseas Allied Members
7. Government Representatives
8. Honorary Members

 

• o   Members shall be issued a maximum of two representative cards each.
• o   Such cards shall entitle the within mentioned, depicted holder to attend meetings and entitled to and vote therein.
• o   However, only one person per member shall be permitted to vote at such meetings.
• o   Cards shall be issued to Directors, Proprietors and Partners only and solely at the discretion of the Managing Committee to Senior Executives of a member.
• o   If a card is lost or misplaced, another card shall be issued for a fee as determined by the Managing Committee of the Federation.
• o   No person shall be allowed to attend a meeting or to vote without a valid membership card.

1. Chartered Members:

Chartered members are an International Air Transport Association (hereinafter referred to as IATA), approved proprietary or partnership firm or a limited company having an established place of business in India, who has formed the said Federation at the initial stage and has paid the chartered membership fee, and shall enjoy all the benefits of an Active Member.

2. Active Members:

An Active members are an IATA approved proprietary or partnership firm or a limited company having an established place of business in India, and shall have voting rights

3. Allied Members:

A legal entity in transportation or hotel business or professionals or otherwise having a close relationship with the travel agency business but whose primary business does not involve issuing of tickets, save and except General Sales Agent and / or Passenger Sales Agent, will be accepted as a member of the Federation with no right to vote in the proceedings of the Federation.

4. Associate Members:

An Associate members are a branch of a Chartered Member or Active member ( the membership being co-terminus along with the respective Chartered Member's or Active Member's membership of the Federation) and shall have a right to vote in the proceedings only at the respective chapter level of the Federation.

5. Affiliate Members:

A legal entity acting as a Travel Services Intermediary who is not an IATA Accredited Agency and shall have no right to vote in any proceedings of the Federation. Their application will be considered subject to following conditions:

• Applications must be sponsored/recommended by an Active member who is an IATA recognized agent for 5 years and a TAFI member for 3 years.
• The company should be registered and in existence for at least 3 years and must comply with all the local laws e.g. Shops & Establishment Act etc.
• Must have a proper office with minimum 3 full time staff.
• Company's PAN number, Income Tax returns and Balance Sheet/P & L statement for the past 2 years are essential.
• Preference shall be given to IATO/ADTOI/ ETAA members, agents recognized by GOITO and agents who have CRS and computers in their office.
• Recruiting agents shall not be considered for membership.
• All applications must be recommended by the respective TAFI Chapter chairman, but the final authority and discretion will rest with the MC.

 

6. Overseas Allied Members:

An Overseas Allied members are classified as a non-resident travel agent or a legal entity associated with the travel trade, industry or service or having a close relationship with the travel agency business shall be admitted under the above mentioned category and shall have the right to participate in the activities only but shall have no right to vote in the proceedings of the Federation.

7. Government Representatives:

Any Government Department/s or designated person from tourist or any Central, State, Foreign, Government department, shall be eligible for membership as a Government Representative, provided the application is made and accepted by the Managing Committee, such member/s shall have the right to participate in the activities of the Federation but with no right to vote in the proceedings of the Federation. Such members shall have all the rights as provided to the Allied members.

8. Honorary Members:

An Honorary members are a person or a legal entity, who in the opinion of the Managing Committee is deemed fit to be admitted as a member of the Federation for such period as the Managing Committee decides, with no right to vote in the proceedings of the Federation. An Honorary member shall not pay any entrance or subscription fees.

 

PROCEEDURE OF ADMISSION OF A MEMBER

1. Every application for membership of the Federation for any category, shall be made in writing by such Individual, Firm, Association or Limited Company in such form and shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed by the Managing Committee from time to time.
2. Every such application for membership shall be proposed by one Chartered or Active member, not being a member of the Managing Committee / Chapter Committee, and seconded by another Chartered or Active member, not being a member of the Managing Committee / Chapter Committee.
3. All applications for membership of the Federation wherein a Chapter exists shall be routed through the Chapter Committee of the Chapter along with their recommendations.
4. The Managing Committee shall be at liberty to decide the procedure for inducting an individual, firm Association or company as a member to the said Federation.
5. The Managing Committee's decision regarding admission of a member shall be final and the Managing Committee may or may not assign any reason for rejecting an application.

 

ENTRANCE FEE AND ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

1. The amount of entrance fee and subscription fee shall be paid by every paying member in advance for 1 year and shall be as follows in INR plus taxes thereon as applicable:

NEW MEMBERS FEES (effective 1st July-2016)
Sr. No.	Category	Membership Fees	Ann. Subs Fees	WTAAA	TAFI certificate	TAFI Id cards	TAFI Faith	GST	Total
1.	Active	6050	4389	605	242	242	440	2154	14122
2.	Allied	6050	2497	-	242	242	440	1705	11176
3.	Associate	6050	2497	605	242	242	440	1814	11890
4.	Affiliate	6050	2497	-	242	242	440	1705	11176
5.	Overseas Allied	6050	3102	-	242	242	440	1814	11890
All payments should be made by a bank draft drawn on a Mumbai Bank in favour of Travel Agents Federation of India and must accompany the application.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Application form fully filled in block letters with signatures and company seal.
• Signature of two bonafide TAFI Active Members from the same chapter as proposer and seconder.
• Xerox copy of IATA Certificate for Active / Associate membership.
• Audited Financial documents available for the last 2 years e.g. I.T. Returns, Balance Sheet, P & L statement.. Memorandum of Article of the company if applicable.
• Approval from the Local Govt. Body e.g. License under Shops & Establishment Act Etc.
• Applicable Fees payable by D/D or cheque payable on par in Mumbai in favour of 'Travel Agents Federation of India'.
• Colour photographs of two of your Partners/Directors/Sr. Managers with names printed behind the photographs for the issuance of TAFI Id cards. Size of the photograph should be 25mm x 35mm.

 Source: TAFI/Slideshare