Anil Kalsi’s advocacy is not just about fixing problems — it’s about reimagining what Indian travel agents can be. His call for fairness, efficiency, and future-readiness resonates in every room he walks into, from government corridors to convention halls.
In an industry where survival has often meant silent compromise, Anil Kalsi, Vice President of the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), is choosing advocacy over accommodation. With over two decades of experience and a reputation for speaking plainly, Kalsi is working to unshackle India’s travel trade from outdated practices and push for reforms that are both overdue and essential.
At the heart of his mission is one clear message: give Indian travel agents the freedom and fairness they deserve.
Cutting Through the Red Tape of Airline Capping
One of Kalsi’s biggest battles is against an outdated relic known only too well by agents — airline capping. While most global markets have long since done away with this restriction, India continues to tie the hands of IATA-accredited agents, preventing them from freely issuing tickets for certain airlines unless pre-approved caps are in place.
“Why should an agent who’s given a bank guarantee and cleared by IATA need permission to sell a ticket?” Kalsi asks. It’s not rhetorical — he’s raised the issue directly with both the Ministry of Civil Aviation and airline representatives. His goal? To bring Indian aviation trade practices in line with international norms, where trust and transparency replace gatekeeping and control.
A Call for Clarity in Card Transactions
Kalsi is equally focused on the confusing maze of credit card rules agents must navigate. With each airline applying its own policies, agents are often left juggling technicalities instead of focusing on customer service. Kalsi wants that to change.
He’s pushing for a uniform credit card acceptance protocol — one set of rules for all carriers. This, he argues, will reduce disputes, improve client trust, and protect agents from bearing the brunt of transaction failures. Behind the scenes, he’s already working to secure better merchant rates for TAFI members, levelling the playing field between brick-and-mortar agencies and tech-driven aggregators.
Protecting the Traveller — and the Agent
As air travel grows, so does risk. Airline failures, abrupt schedule changes, and non-refundable cancellations have become disturbingly common. Kalsi’s solution? Built-in ticket insurance — not as an optional add-on, but as a default safeguard included in every fare.
Such a system, he believes, will not only protect travellers but also reduce financial exposure for agents when things go wrong. It’s a simple idea with powerful implications: when customers feel safer booking through agents, trust in the offline channel is restored.
Taming the Tax Beast: GST and TCS Reform
Anyone in the travel business knows that taxation in India is a maze, and not a particularly friendly one. Between GST complexities and Tax Collected at Source (TCS) policies that penalize outbound travel from India, agents are losing business to foreign websites and OTA giants.
Kalsi doesn’t just want change — he has a plan. He’s calling for a flat, PAN-linked TCS rate that simplifies compliance without hurting competitiveness. On GST, he’s pushing for clearer categorization and consistent application so agents can focus on growth instead of grappling with red tape.
Beyond Business: A Bigger Picture for Tourism
Kalsi’s vision extends beyond transactional reform. He is a firm believer in sustainable and responsible tourism. For Kalsi, tourism is not just about numbers. “It’s about impact,” he often says. He sees agents not just as sellers of travel but as ambassadors of value-based journeys — ones that leave destinations better than they found them.
Leading Through Change, Not Comfort
Anil Kalsi doesn’t lead from behind a desk. Whether he’s confronting policy hurdles, moderating panels on NDC and AI, or supporting travel revival efforts in places like Kashmir, he brings a hands-on, reform-first approach to leadership.
In a post-pandemic world grappling with digital disruption, regulatory fatigue, and rising traveller expectations, Kalsi represents the kind of voice the industry needs — direct, determined, and deeply informed by grassroots realities.
He is, in every sense, a voice of influence — and one that is helping shape the future of Indian travel, one reform at a time.
