The Travel Agents Association of Pune (TAAP) has sent a legal notice to Atlys Visa. The notice claims that the company shared defamatory, misleading, and harmful content targeting travel agents in a social media video on its official Facebook page.
In the notice directed to the Board of Directors and management of Atlys Visa, TAAP criticized a video reel that, according to the association, makes “blanket and unsubstantiated allegations” against travel agents. The video portrays the entire community as unethical, unreliable, and exploitative. TAAP maintains that the content is false, misleading, and intended to misinform the public, thus harming the professional reputation of licensed travel agencies.
The association argued that the video unfairly stereotypes an entire industry that has been serving Indian travelers for decades within recognized legal and regulatory frameworks. TAAP described the content as defamatory and a form of trade disparagement, aiming to shift business by eroding consumer trust in traditional travel agents.
In its notice, TAAP also accused Atlys Visa of hypocrisy. It pointed out that Atlys Visa has received numerous customer complaints and negative reviews on public platforms. These complaints involve poor communication, service delays, refund issues, and overall customer dissatisfaction. The association noted that Atlys Visa has faced adverse commentary across digital and social media, raising concerns about service transparency and accountability.
“Instead of dealing with its own well-documented customer issues and reputation problems, Atlys Visa has chosen to attack an entire professional community,” the notice stated, adding that such behavior is unethical and legally unfounded.
TAAP asserted that any attempt to generalize or stereotype travel agents constitutes defamation, unfair competition, and intentional misrepresentation. This could expose Atlys Visa to serious civil and legal repercussions, including claims for reputational harm.
As part of its demands, TAAP has requested the immediate and permanent removal of the offensive video and any similar content from Facebook and all other digital platforms. The association also seeks a clear, public apology directed at the travel agents’ community, retracting all alleged false claims and implications.
Furthermore, TAAP has asked for a written commitment from Atlys Visa confirming that it will avoid publishing or endorsing any future content that directly or indirectly harms travel agents or misleads consumers. The notice also calls for internal corrective measures to ensure that future marketing communications are factually accurate and comply with legal standards.
The association warned that failure to comply within 48 hours of receiving the notice would lead TAAP to pursue further action. This could involve legal proceedings for defamation, trade disparagement, and unfair business practices, along with industry-wide advisories and public clarifications highlighting consumer complaints and past negative media coverage about Atlys Visa.
TAAP stated that the notice has been issued with full rights to all legal remedies, which remain reserved.
