With a theme ‘Connecting Legacies, Crafting Futures’, TAFI is all set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Greece with business meetings like stepping stones to a brighter future of India’s travel trade. Abbas Moiz, President, TAFI, shares more about the 40th year of TAFI
Srishti Mukherjee
With a four decades long journey that mirrors the evolution of India’s travel trade, TAFI has grown and reinvented itself alongside the changing tourism landscape. It has continued to represent the interests of India’s travel-agent community and their concerns and ambitions. As TAFI celebrates its milestone 40th Ruby Anniversary throughout 2026, the President of TAFI, Abbas Moiz, shares what the upcoming anniversary convention means for the association.
Set to be hosted in Rhodes, Greece, from October 4, 2026 to October 7, 2026, TAFI’s 40th anniversary convention with the theme ‘Connecting Legacies, Crafting Futures’ is set to host close to 440 delegates.
Connecting Legacies, Crafting Futures
Talking about the theme of the convention and what it means for the future of India’s travel trade, Abbas shares, “The word legacy represents the four decades of experience, relationships, trust and professional knowledge that have contributed to building India’s travel trade, and must be used as the foundation for the future.”
He believes that crafting futures is about recognising that the travel business is changing rapidly. “Technology, artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and changing traveller expectations are transforming how people discover, plan and purchase travel. It is no longer about competing with technology. Transition through the correct use of technology, based on the foundation of years of knowledge, sound judgement and ethical problem-solving solutions, will eventually be the way agency operations will be conducted,” he adds.
Rhodes as a representation
Picking Rhodes, Greece to host the anniversary convention, Abbas says, was a strategic choice. He shares, “Rhodes was chosen because it represents much more than a beautiful Greek island. It is a destination where history, cultures and commerce have intersected for centuries—which makes it particularly appropriate for TAFI’s 40th anniversary and the theme, ‘Connecting Legacies, Crafting Futures’.”
He explains that a decisive factor for Greece was the direct connectivity between India and Greece. Rhodes was also chosen because it is a relatively unexplored destination. Furthermore he adds, “There is already a growing focus in Rhodes and the wider South Aegean region on developing stronger relationships with the Indian market. In fact, discussions around the TAFI Convention include a proposed framework for cooperation aimed at promoting the region in India, developing thematic tourism, and strengthening business relationships.”
He also highlights that the island also offers the infrastructure and diversity required for a convention of this scale—quality accommodation, conference facilities, cuisine, heritage, leisure, and experiences that can be incorporated into a business programme. Greece itself is positioning Rhodes as one of its key MICE destinations.
“Most importantly, Rhodes gives us an opportunity to connect two travel communities. We bring several hundred Indian travel professionals to a destination that is keen to deepen its engagement with India. That creates opportunities for B2B relationships, destination knowledge, new product development and, hopefully, greater travel between India and the Greek islands,” he says.
What to expect?
With the preparations for TAFI’s 40th anniversary in full swing, Abbas reveals that the business sessions at the upcoming convention are designed to be thought-provoking, practical, and relevant to the realities facing travel advisors today. According to him, the objective is not simply to discuss where the industry is going, but to give the members perspectives and ideas that they can take back and apply to their businesses.
He shares, “A key focus will be the changing role of the travel advisor, with considerable emphasis on emerging technologies. An open dialogue on issues that have a direct impact on the day-to-day business of our members—airline distribution and inventory, NDC, commissions and commercial relationships, visa facilitation, taxation, regulatory compliance, and the overall ease of doing business. These are particularly relevant as the Government and industry are currently looking at reforms to simplify tourism regulations, approvals, and compliance.
New opportunities for Indian travel agents
Now, as TAFI enters its fifth decade Abbas believes the opportunities for Indian travel agents are greater than ever—but the nature of the opportunity is changing.
He shares, “Travellers are increasingly looking for something beyond a standard itinerary—they want experiences that are relevant to their interests and lifestyles. As connectivity improves and travellers become more adventurous, travel advisors can introduce their clients to destinations beyond the traditional favourites. This requires product knowledge, strong destination relationships, and the ability to create differentiated itineraries.”
A successful outcome for TAFI
Beyond the four-day convention, Abbas highlights that a successful convention, according to him, would be one where the impact continues long after the delegates leave Rhodes. The four days should be the beginning of conversations and relationships, not the end of them.
He says, “For TAFI as an organisation, I would like the convention to strengthen collaboration within the travel fraternity—between members, chapters, and our industry partners. It should also help us identify the issues where TAFI needs to take a stronger collective position and where we can work more constructively with government, airlines, technology companies, destinations, and other stakeholders.”
