Asita presents Plan Save-5 deposits to agents<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel
\nAgencies (Asita) presented US$12.5 million from its Plan Save-5
\nsavings program to its sub-agents, allaying their fears of unfair
\ndeposit distribution.<\/p>\n
"The recent distribution of deposits has eliminated fears that
\nthe agents and sub-agents cannot manage the distribution the Plan
\nSave deposits fairly," said Andi Mappi Sammeng, the director
\ngeneral of tourism.<\/p>\n
Asita's Plan Save-5 requires its members to turn over five
\npercentage points of the nine percent commission charged by
\nairlines.<\/p>\n
It was agreed in November 1993 that, after two years, 50
\npercent of the interest earned would be paid to the Indonesian
\nTourism Promotion Board, while the remaining 50 percent could be
\nwithdrawn by the depositors.<\/p>\n
Under the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s new
\npolicy, each tour and travel agency is required to provide
\nguarantee funds of a minimum of $15,000, or 120 percent of its
\naverage sales, in 15 days. Previously the guarantee funds were
\nset at only 40 percent.<\/p>\n
Under the IATA and Asita agreement, the agencies' deposits can
\nbe used to pay for the guarantee funds.<\/p>\n
Since the program was implemented in November 1993, nearly $25
\nmillion in deposits and interest has been raised through the
\nstate-owned Bank Bumi Daya.<\/p>\n
Asita's chairman, Sri Mulyono Herlambang, said that in
\naddition to paying for the new guarantee funds, Plan Save-5 was
\nalso aimed at preventing price wars between agencies.<\/p>\n
He said that the withdrawal of deposits and their distribution
\nto sub-agents proved that the plan was by no means causing losses
\nto the sub-agents as they had previously feared.<\/p>\n
"Now the sub-agents can see that they get benefits just like
\ntheir agents," he said.<\/p>\n
According to Herlambang, of the 248 agents which already have
\naccreditation from ASITA, 18 still oppose the plan.<\/p>\n
Asked about the sanctions on agents which fail to provide
\nguarantee funds, Herlambang said that the matter would be
\ndiscussed this month when Asita holds its meeting in North
\nSumatra's provincial capital of Medan. (03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asita-presents-plan-save-5-deposits-to-agents-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}