Biji Eapen, National President of the IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) has urged the Prime Minister to offer immediate bailout (economic relief package) for the travel and sector without with en masse job losses will deal a death blow to the industry businesses.
According to IAAI, the Indian travel and tourism sector faces an economic meltdown from which it will struggle to recover and nose-dive millions of people dependent upon it for their livelihoods into debt. The 'domino effect' will also result in massive job losses across the entire supply chain, hitting employees, and those in self-employment. According to the latest news reports, Panama City-based Bookit.com has become the first OTA casualty and Air Deccan, the first closure in the Indian aviation sector, since COVID-19 shutdown.
IAAI flagged the subject with the Government of India by submitting an Appeal on behalf of the industry stakeholders, to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a request to aid the sector which is the backbone of Indian economy, by way of assigning resources and coordinated efforts to rescue major businesses such as travel agents, tour operators, GDS, and technology companies, travel & tourism training institutes; tourist guides and entire supply chain to save the jobs of millions of people and their families who depend on the sector for their livelihoods.
