TAAI 2005

Think Out Of The Box: Balbir Mayal

The agents have to keep pace with innovative ideas and explore more areas of customer services. They should realise that vast vistas are opening up in the travel trade and updating oneself on the know-how is the only way to keep oneself out of the waters says Balbir Mayal, president TAAI. Excerpts from an interview with Indrani Rajkhowa

What led you to chose Colombo as the venue for TAAI 2005?

We had three options -- Goa, Chennai and Colombo. We opted for Colombo as it provided easy connectivity and accommodation compared to the others. We also wanted to show our solidarity with the tsunami-ravaged country and spread the message across to the world that physical traces of devastation have been wiped out.

Sri Lanka is entangled in the web of militancy. How safe is the destination? How do you assure your members and the dignitaries who plan to grace the occasion at Colombo?

Today, terrorism is a global menace. You are safe nowhere. Till date, Colombo has no record of a single foreigner been attacked. Yes, they do have their internal separatist problems, but which country doesn't? Take a look closer home, isn't the story same in Kashmir? Have you ever come across any incident where an event, let's say in Delhi, has been postponed just because there was disturbance in Kashmir? The world is not safe anymore. You can't have a myopic view about Sri Lanka. Colombo as a destination is quite safe. Security is tight and life's absolutely safe here. The Sri Lankan government has assured us that they'll see to it that nothing goes wrong.

Can you throw some light on the theme-New Waves, New Ways?

The theme has been thoughtfully chosen keeping in mind the changing trends in the travel business. It's the waves that come first, and then it's the ways. As the travel industry goes through a sea of change, the agents have to keep pace with innovative ideas and explore more areas of customer services. They should realise that vast vistas are opening up in the travel trade and updating oneself on the know-how is the only way to keep oneself above the water.

How is the convention going to be different from last year's?

It would be incorrect to compare this convention with last year's. The theme last year-India Unbound-was a preamble to the theme this year. Last year witnessed the opening up of the industry. The skies opened up, our economy was liberalised and our per capita income increased. India was unshackled.

Today, the industry has undergone a complete transition. Fares have gone down. This year we are expecting an increase in both domestic and international travel by 20-25 %. Some of our members are finding it hard to cope up with the changes. The convention will make them comfortable in adapting to a new work culture and broaden their horizon.

How is the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka and SLTB helping you out?

Their support is overwhelming. In fact, the President of Sri Lanka has personally assured us that her office will go out of its way to see that the convention is a success.

What are the important issues you have taken up with the government that would change the face of the industry?

Right now the lack of infrastructure in India is glaring problem. We need good roads, smart airports and decent budget hotels. Unfortunately, nothing is moving in a positive direction in this regard. We are going to take up issues pertaining to this. Of course, the lack of budget hotels, a case close to our heart, will be highlighted. Delhi, for instance, has no budget hotel at all. It's either the five-star or the junk in Paharganj. This is going to have a negative impact on the industry. Business is already moving to cheaper destinations like Thailand, Malaysia, etc. The convention will urge the government to give up their conservative approach and see the long-term advantage of having budget hotels. We'll suggest viable options of giving land on lease or other sops to hotel owners through which the government too can reap profits throughout. The convention will also make the government realise the merits of normalising visa restrictions with the neighbouring nations and the usage of each other's currency.

But, cannot the government build and run budget hotels of their own?

It can't. ITDC was a total failure. The government has sold most of its existing properties to private entrepreneurs and is in the process of disposing the rest.

Coming to the business in the skies. Opening the shackles of Indian aviation has definitely opened vast vistas. But, what is the government doing to smooth roadblocks like airport infrastructure?

Nothing. It's unfortunate that the government is doing nothing in this regard. We are not up to the mark when it comes to congestion, handling of traffic or the terminals. It beats me as to why don't they learn a lesson from our neighboring countries. Look at China-what airports, what shopping arcades, what roads and hotels! Here, we are lacking in every aspect. In a scale of 1/10 I would easily rate India in the 10th position.

Tourism holds bright prospects for India--the writing is clearly on the wall. What role do you see of the ministry of tourism ?

It would be incorrect to say that they are doing nothing but yes, we have miles to go before we can be at par with Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand or even China. Consider the China story. They started focussing on tourism just 10 years back and today they have almost 35 million tourists per year. Thailand has over 10 million footfalls every year, Malaysia and Singapore have 15 million, Hong Kong over 15 million; Compared to these countries, India has got a sad figure of just 3 million. Out of the 3 million visitors, half of them are NRIs. Therefore, what are we harping about? India is nowhere in the tourism map. Maybe we are a leader when compared to countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka or Pakistan. That's just about it!

Come September and the itinerary is choc-a-bloc with conventions. How do the participants benefit from these conventions? Many a times the issues remain on table?

As the foremost association in the travel industry, it's our moral responsibility to educate and update the travel fraternity and we try to do that once every year. Our duty is to create awareness about new waves and changes. We guide them to think out of the box; look into areas where they can reap profits. As for issues reaching the government, yes, they do. Whatever change is happening today is because we've raised and pursued these issues. I admit that development in this sector remained stagnant for quite some time, but our present Minister of Tourism and Minister of Civil Aviation are changing the dynamics. But certain things we are still are at loggerheads. Lack of infrastructure, budget hotels, and sophisticated airports. We've to learn to defy red tapism if we want growth in the sector.