The National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAV) today advocated for the inclusion of agents in the TAP privatization process, supporting the sale under “non-negotiable” conditions.
“The association calls for respect for all stakeholders, especially travel agencies, which account for about 40% of bookings, urging that they be consulted and protected during the process,” ANAV stated in a statement.
Following the government’s announcement regarding the approval of the decree-law that envisions the privatization of 49.9% of TAP’s share capital, ANAV expressed support for the decision but presented some “non-negotiable conditions,” such as the “formal inclusion of travel agents in the decision-making process” to ensure “significant participation in the definition of contracts and post-privatization processes.”
“It is impossible to successfully carry out a privatization process of TAP without considering, without listening to, all other key players who, along with the airline, make Portuguese tourism a global reference,” argued ANAV President Miguel Quintas in the same note.
The association also wants travel agents to closely monitor the process to ensure that the “interests of those who bring tourists and drive the economy” are not overlooked.
“Privatization is only valid if the entire ecosystem involved around TAP is safeguarded, namely the agencies, hospitality, catering, events, and airport infrastructure,” it noted.
Additionally, ANAV wants to guarantee the maintenance of the hub in Lisbon (an airport serving as a distribution center for an airline), expressing opposition “to any scenario that removes the hub from Lisbon in favor of others, such as Madrid.”
