NITAS holds general meet, discuss plans

The Network of Independent Travel Agencies (NITAS) recently held their 4th General Membership Meeting at the Traders Hotel in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

New members were inducted into the organization, which is currently composed of 75 member travel agencies. Provincial chapters were recently established in Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro.

Presented as featured airline partner was Northwest Airlines, while Marco Polo International was named international hotel partner.

The search for Travel Girl Philippines 2001 was also launched during the program, with five candidates vying for the title. Travel Girl 2000 Chiqui Lucindo also graced the event.

Palawan was named as the featured Philippine destination. The province will be promoted by NITAS as a premiere destination to local and foreign tourists in the coming weeks.

NITAS president Robert Lim Joseph encouraged the member agencies to improve their efforts in regaining the market’s trust after the recent barrage of tourist scares that plagued the country.

Joseph also enjoined the members to sign-up with the Travel Cooperative of the Philippines (TCP), a project of NITAS with an immediate goal of setting up a travel cooperative accredited by the International Association of Travel Agents (IATA). The TCP was recognized and accredited by the Cooperative Development Authority in March this year.

Once the TCP is established and accreditation secured, all of its members will enjoy the same benefits and privileges made available only to IATA travel agents.

These perks include lower airline rates, lower priced travel accommodations, interline privileges, among others. By joining the TCP, a travel agent will be entitled to all the benefits and privileges available to IATA travel agents without the burden of putting up the R3,000,000 paid-up capital required by IATA.

The TCP also aims to negotiate with different business establishments like airlines, hotels, resorts, restaurants, foreign travel agents, department stores, retail establishments, banks and other financial institutions, in order to secure the best business concessions for its members.

Abacus Philippines’ deal with TCP was also recognized during the meeting. Abacus has offered to donate R1.8 million worth of computer reservations systems to aid front and backroom facilities of the association.