Decline in online bookings to help travel agents

Our Corporate Bureau

Mumbai, Sept 20: Even as airlines and hotels worldover are going through a period of instability, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for travel agents. The very existence of travel agents had been threatened with airlines and hotels having undertaken online ticketing and room-bookings.

This is likely to change following Tuesday’s terrorist attack in the US, wherein hijackers were believed to have bought the airline tickets online. Airline authorities might decide against allowing the issue of tickets on the internet, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), president, Pradip Madhavji said In fact, TAAI had geared to face the online threat by drawing a theme, “Re-engineering in the ICE age” for its 50th annual convention to be held at the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel & Convention Centre in Mumbai from Sept 21-24. The convention would focus on the theme but would also now include a session by a disciple of Swami Chinmayanda on ‘peace’ following the terrorist attacks, convention committee, chairman, CV Prasad said. The convention has attracted 2,000 delegates which is a record figure, which also includes 100 delegates from foreign countries.