ATAB claims to take 9 steps in travel agency business

A media briefing on travel agency business and current scenario by ATAB was held on Saturday (October 19, 2024) at Hotel Victory, Sangu Hall in the capital. ATAB President Mr. Abdus Salam Aref addressed the media briefing and drew the attention of the government to the following issues and requested to take necessary measures.

1. Formulation of appropriate policies for conduct of Online Travel Agency (OTA) business.
2. Provision of policies/instructions for group ticketing by discontinuing air ticket hoarding and syndicates.
3. Mandatory mention of agency name, contact phone number, ticket price on the ticket.
4. Urgent stoppage of money laundering by foreign websites/APIs so that foreign websites/APIs cannot conduct business illegally in Bangladesh.
5. Passengers with tickets sold from third country (other than the country of departure and destination ie India, Dubai, Singapore) should be stopped onboard at Bangladesh airport. This will stop ticket sales and money laundering from third countries.
6. Quick action to stop giving incentives against collecting hundreds of crores of advance money in the name of selling air tickets.
7. In order to prevent possible anarchy and loss of public interest in this regard and to prevent discrimination in trade, travel agencies cannot display, advertise, sell and market tickets at a price lower than the price of airlines.
8. Action taken to stop unregistered fake agencies illegally conducting business, selling air tickets and travel related services.
9. Instructing and monitoring that online travel agencies (OTAs) do not issue login IDs to any unlicensed travel agent, tour operator or organization for doing business.

ATAB Secretary General Mr. Afsia Jannat Saleh, Vice President Mr. Mustafizur Rahman Hero, Joint Secretary General Mr. Atiqur Rahman, Deputy Secretary General Mr. Toaha Chowdhury, Finance Secretary Mr. Md. Safiq Ulya Hnantu, ATAB Executive Council and Dhaka Regional Council members, ATAB . Senior and young leaders and respected media workers of Bangladesh were Also present in the media briefing.