Travel agents
Travel agents are experts on travel. They can advise you about all aspects of your travel plans including availability of services, health requirements, travel documents and insurance.
Anyone who carries on business as a travel agent is generally required to be licensed. A licensed travel agent will have a green and gold logo displayed at their premises.
Why is the travel industry regulated?
During the early 1980s, the need for regulation of the travel industry became evident following the collapse of numerous travel agencies and the significant financial losses suffered by consumers as a result. In many cases failure was attributed to businesses having an unsound financial base. However in some instances the people involved were simply not fit and proper persons to be entrusted with large amounts of money.
The Travel Agents Act introduced the licensing of travel agents principally to ensure that persons who carry on business as travel agents are "fit and proper" persons and that they have sufficient financial resources to conduct such business. To maintain public confidence in the travel industry, the Act also provided for the establishment of the Travel Compensation Fund to safeguard against loss of money by consumers in the event of defalcation or default by a travel agent. It also set minimum standards of experience and qualifications for persons involved in the management of travel agencies.
Despite the collapse of some travel agencies over the past decade, public confidence in the travel industry remains high. While the current regulatory structure appears to be achieving what it set out to do, the government is mindful of changes that have occurred in the marketplace since the Travel Agents Act was introduced, and is committed to on-going review and reform, in consultation with industry.