In the face of uncertainty, true leadership doesn’t retreat — it steps forward with resolve. This June, as the tourism industry stood at a delicate crossroads in Jammu & Kashmir, Sunil Kumar, President of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), became the voice of reassurance and revival.
Leading from the front, Kumar launched the “Rally for the Valley” initiative — a national call to travel professionals to return, with confidence and solidarity, to the Kashmir Valley. Speaking from Srinagar during a gathering of over 75 TAAI delegates from across India, he struck a tone of both resilience and responsibility.
“TAAI is not a silent observer in times of crisis,” he emphasized. “We are a movement — a team spread across 20 regions and chapters of this country, and we are fully committed to standing with Jammu & Kashmir in its hour of need.”
His message was clear: tourism cannot be dictated by fear. Kumar reminded the fraternity of TAAI’s decision to hold its national convention in Srinagar back in 2018, even when the region was grappling with tension. “That,” he said, “was not just an event — it was a statement. And this time, too, we are here to make one.”
Amid the emotional weight of a recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kumar and his team reaffirmed their faith in the Valley’s people and potential.
“Tourists have nothing to fear. We are here with our families, walking the same streets, staying in the same hotels. The people of Kashmir are among the most hospitable in India — this is not just a destination, it’s a welcoming home.”
But beyond sentiment, there was strategy. Kumar revealed that TAAI is actively engaged with the Union government, airlines, and hospitality stakeholders to make travel to the Valley not just safe, but accessible.
“Revival is not only about emotional appeal,” he noted. “It’s also about affordability. We are pushing for capped airfares and hotel tariffs so that we can offer compelling, cost-effective packages for tourists.”
The rally was more than symbolic. In a powerful show of solidarity, TAAI’s leadership was joined by political dignitaries including Jammu & Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who lauded the association’s commitment. “True friends stand with you when times are difficult,” Abdullah said. “TAAI’s presence here proves that.”
Sunil Kumar’s leadership continues to echo beyond this initiative. His approach — a blend of realism, empathy, and action — has turned TAAI into more than a trade body. It is now a catalyst for change.
In the Valley’s moment of trial, TAAI has chosen hope. And Sunil Kumar has emerged not just as its president, but its pulse.
