Natas president out after cessation of his travel agency

G.C Nanda & Sons ceased to be licensed from May 30, according to the Singapore Tourism Board's Travel Related Users' System (Trust) website. PHOTO: SHIN MIN

SINGAPORE - Mr Devinder Ohri is no longer president of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas) following the cessation of his travel agency, Natas said in a statement on Thursday (June 22).

Mr Ohri is a director of the 40-year-old G.C. Nanda & Sons, which ceased to be licensed on May 30, according to the Singapore Tourism Board's Travel Related Users' System (Trust) website.

The cessation of the travel agency's "retail travel related operations" was a voluntary decision by the company's directors, and the firm is no longer licensed or accredited by the Singapore Tourism Board and International Air Transport Association, though it remains registered as a private limited company, the statement said.

As such, it no longer qualifies for Natas membership, and an urgent meeting of the executive committee convened on June 19 resulted in Mr Ohri vacating his position as president of Natas.

Deputy president Steven Ler will assume the role of acting president until a new president is appointed or elected at the next annual general meeting scheduled for May 2018.

Natas said that it is business as usual for the travel association, and the upcoming Natas travel fair to take place from Aug 11 to 13 will not be affected.

"We would like to assure the members that the recent development will not impact the association... Natas travel fairs are run independently and are not impacted by the cessation of any travel agents," it said.

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