NAN-H-73
IATA
By Adekunle Williams/Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Nov. 3, 2016 (NAN) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has promised to work with guidelines that would enhance and promote the growth of travel trade business in Nigeria.
Mr Bernard Bankole, President National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), gave the hint in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.
Bankole said the Regional Director of IATA for Africa and Middle East, Mr Dusan Kostic, made the commitment while receiving a delegation of NANTA executives in Amman, Jordan.
According to him, Kostic promised to review the interest rates charged against defaulting travels agents who delayed remittal of funds to IATA.
He said that the IATA chief also disclosed that the global aviation regulatory body would henceforth play more proactive role in the training and retraining of NANTA members.
Bankole said that Kostic, while appreciating the visit, used the opportunity to introduce the Gen ISS Programme – a global management process for travel agents meant to ease compliance with local trade laws.
The NANTA president commended IATA for its progressive oversight of aviation business in Nigeria but however called for more pragmatic approach to issues concerning Nigeria travel agents.
He said that travel agents are key players in the downstream sector of the industry, particularly with challenges posed by the Nigerian economy in recession.
Bankole assured IATA that NANTA would deepen the relationship with the Africa and Middle East region of IATA through strategic interface and visits whenever the need arises in future.
He described the visit, which was the first by any NANTA leadership since its foundation, as a step by the present leadership to reposition the body and travel trade business in Nigeria. (NAN)
WAC/ASO/FF/SOA
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Oluwole Sogunle