TAAB is the biggest association of travel trade operators in West Bengal. Having 200 + members & growing everyday in size & strength TAAB has evolved as the biggest local body of travel trade operators in India.

On a wintry afternoon a group of people from various background were having a picnic on the river Ganga near the then Calcutta. It was a heady mix of young travel trade entrepreneurs, veteran travel trade personalities from the government and editors of travel magazines. 

As the small ship cruises past Belur, Dakshineswar the group were gelled in the common belief of having a trade platform for the active travel trade entrepreneurs which will serve as a link between the government—travel trade operators and the general tourists. 

By the time the ship docked at the Outram Jetty at the end of the day outing the idea of having an organization of travel trade operators had crystallized.

Thus TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOCIATION OF BENGAL—TAAB was born. The day 15th December 1995. Today the toddler of yesteryears is the oldest and the biggest association of travel trade operators in West Bengal.

The journey was not that easy as is with any organization of this type. TAAB was the PATHFINDER. We did not have any role model as a result initial years been topsy turvy.

But things started to change by 2002 when a group of young travel trade entrepreneurs joined TAAB the joint effort of the old guard and the new catapulted TAAB to this position of today as the premier organization.

In these years TAAB achieved many a unique distinctions but we are not ready to rest on the laurels of the past. As a dynamic organization we are constantly innovating ways and means to develop further awareness amongst all the stake holders of tourism.

Today, the tourism industry is challenged from all sides, be it terrorism, oil price rise, global warming, natural devastations like tsunami, earthquake and the likes, unemployment and inflation. This has put into focus matters like sustainability and responsibility in our trade practices TAAB is the harbinger of this movement for sustainable and responsible tourism. The world is moving towards the same and TAAB wants to spearhead the movement not only in India in general but West Bengal in particular.

TAAB’S MISSION & VISION

• Focusing on Sustainable Tourism
• Informing tourists prior of the culture, politics, and economy of the communities visited.
• Anticipating and respecting local cultures, expectations and assumptions.
• Contributing to intercultural understanding and tolerance.
• Supporting the integrity of local cultures by favoring businesses which conserve cultural  heritage and traditional values.
• Supporting local economies by purchasing local goods and participating with small, local  businesses.
• Conserving resources by seeking out businesses that are environmentally conscious, and by  using the least possible amount of non-renewable resources.

Focusing on Responsible Tourism:

• Minimizes negative economic, environmental, and social impacts.
• Generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry.
• Involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances.
• Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world’s diversity.
• Provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues.
• Provides access for people with disabilities and is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

Our Pledge

• I will always strive to meet the highest evolving standards of Competence in the profession and add value to organizational success.
• I will deal with all tourism stakeholders with utmost Integrity and create an environment of trust leading to Ethical success of my organization.
• I will ensure that I am always reliable and consistent in all my actions by accepting responsibility for my decisions and actions thereby creating Credibility for my profession and myself.
• I will be objective in all my actions and decisions and foster Fairness with firmness.
• I will conduct myself in a way that Facilitates Growth and Development of all those I am responsible for.
• I will strive to be a Role Model for all others and Champion exemplary practice of the tourism profession.
• I will respect the rights of privacy, will not use my position for personal gains and ensure that there is no Conflict of Interest in what I do with any of tourism stakeholders.