TAAI: Travel Agents Association of India

Code of Ethics

The Travel industry is now highly specialised and the average traveller depends upon the professional Travel agent to guide him wisely. The Principals who appoint Travel agents to represent them also depend upon their approved agents to follow the best traditions of salesmanship and ethical conduct. The growing number of Travel agents and their increased scale of activities require their adherence to fair dealing and ethical practices

Therefore, each TAAI member by reason of their membership admits and acknowledges that they are aware of the TAAI Code of Ethics and subscribes to and supports the precepts and principles contained therein.

TAAI represents all that is professional, ethical and dynamic in our nation's Travel related activity and has been recognised as the voice of the Travel and Tourism industry in India.

Relations With the Public

The TAAI member should endeavor to eliminate any practices which may be damaging to the public or to the dignity and integrity of the Travel agents profession. The TAAI member shall report in writing to the respective Chapter / Regional Sub-Committee on any alleged unethical or unlawful practice which comes to their attention, accompanied by all evidence as they are able to gather in support of allegations.

Such a report shall be confidential in nature and unless otherwise agreed shall not be disclosed to any person. If, after due consideration of the evidences, the Chapter/ Region considers such report sufficiently valid, it shall submit the same to TAAI Headquarters with its comments and recommendations. In performing its functions in this context, TAAI shall give regard to the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act and other relevant laws.

It is the duty of the TAAI member to keep himself and his staff informed and updated in respect of all important aspects of the travel requirements, in order to give clients effective, accurate and professional travel advice, in keeping with the main objective of the Association.

The TAAI member should possess adequate knowledge of procedure and requirements of Central and State Authorities.

The TAAI member shall consider every transaction with their clients to be strictly confidential in nature and will not divulge any related information, which may be damaging to either the clients or the trade.

At the time of discussions of travel related plans the TAAI member's staff should fully advise their clients on all formalities and costs involved in the program, and ensure, to the best of his ability that such formalities have been satisfied before travel.

The TAAI member shall use available advertising materials to acquaint the public with the advantages of dealing with a TAAI member. Additionally the TAAI Logo should be incorporated in all advertising materials issued by him. The TAAI member shall display the TAAI insignia on entrance doors or display windows, and on all official stationery

The TAAI member shall not imitate, simulate or copy any name, design, style, mark or patter used by another TAAI member or Principal without prior permission.

The TAAI member in his advertising shall avoid incorrect and misleading statements, doubtful superlatives and any negative reference to his competitors.

Relations With Carriers and other Principals

The TAAI members shall, at all times, follow the best traditions of marketing ethics and fair dealing by presenting all carriers, hotels and other agencies which they represent in a fair and impartial manner to prospective clients.

The TAAI members shall make himself thoroughly conversant with tariff rules, regulations and changes in procedure introduced by his principals and the appropriate regulatory bodies.

(a) The TAAI members shall not attempt to improperly influence his principals or other organisations for the purpose of securing preferential considerations in the assignment of booking with his status in the trade and in society.

(b) The TAAI members must discourage receiving any personal favours in the conduct of his profession, in keeping with his status in the trade and in society.

The TAAI member shall not make any false, deceptive or misleading statements when called on to give an opinion of a Principal's service to a client or any other interested party.

In the event of a complaint or grievance by a client against any Principal, the TAAI member shall give the Principal an opportunity to make a full investigation before any further action on his part.

Relations With Fellow Members and other Travel Agents

The TAAI member shall conduct his business so as to avoid controversies with his fellow Travel agents. In the event of a controversy between TAAI members, the matter should be settled by mutual discussions, failing which it should be brought to the notice of the TAAI Managing Committee for settlement before any direct course of action is resorted to by the parties.
The TAAI member shall not denigrate the business dealing of another TAAI member and shall not volunteer any negative opinions thereon. If his opinion is sought, it should be given with strict professional integrity and courtesy.
The TAAI member shall not willfully violate any decision of TAAI Managing Committee. He shall adhere to the decisions taken, Memoranda of understanding or agreements initiated by TAAI from time to time.
The TAAI members shall secure, preferably, a No Objection Certificate or at least a relieving letter from the previous employer of any person the former is planning to employ, particularly if the previous employer is a TAAI member. The former will help the latter in recovering dues, if any , from such an employee.
If a TAAI member happens to take any account previously serviced / handled by another TAAI member, the member shall make all efforts to assist the previous member in recovering dues and clearing accounts.
The TAAI member shall circulate the names of defaulters in his client list strictly as per the mode and format specified by TAAI, sufficiently in advance, to save other TAAI members from any risk of business loss.
The TAAI member shall endeavor to participate regularly in the meetings of their respective Chapters and Regions, and shall contribute to the best of his ability in promoting the interests of the Association.
The proceedings of all meetings of TAAI should be kept confidential and decisions taken shall not be disclosed, in part or full, to anyone not belonging to the Association.