Laws and Regulations Applicable to the Travel Industry - Institut de ...

What distinguishes a travel agent from a travel counsellor? Travel counsellors
also regularly perform the operations mentioned above as part of their
duties. However, they do not need a travel agent licence since they act on
behalf of a travel agent already holding a licence. Still, they need a counsellor
certificate and must respect the following conditions:
• Have an employment contract (examples of which can be found
in Appendix 2) with a single travel agent;
• Work in one of the establishments of their employer (a travel agent),
where the licence or a duplicate licence is visibly displayed;
• Not receive customers in their home;
• Collect funds from their customers and deposit them in the trust
account of their employer;
• Give a receipt that complies with regulations (see Topic 7)
• Advertise stating the agency contact information but may also
announce their mobile telephone number.
Did you know that…
A travel agent must maintain
an up-to-date list of travel
counsellors employed by his
agency including those with
whom an exclusive service
contract has been signed
(including outside agents).
The travel agent must also make
sure that his travel counsellors
have a certificate (see details
in Topic 4)
3.1.2 Licence classes and costs
The President of the OPC issues licences in two (2) classes:
• restricted licence;
• general licence.
In fact, as the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) indicated in
a letter dated July 9, 2010, the categories of carrier and travel agent, as
well as wholesaler or retailer are abolished.
Depending on the nature of your commercial activities, you must apply for
the appropriate category of licence. Are you a business in the tourist industry,
such as a accommodations supplier, an organizer of adventure travel,
an outfitter or a regional tourist association? Do you offer tourist services
to customers in addition to your main activities? If you answered “yes” to
both these questions, you are performing certain travel agent operations.
Accordingly, since January 1, 2011, you must apply for the restricted licence
without taking an examination. For all other travel agent operations
(see 3.1.1), you must obtain a general licence and pass an examination.
Refer to Table 3.1 to know what type of licence applies to the activities and
services you provide. Incidentally, Mr. Fortunato must operate with a general
licence.
Topic 3 – Operating with a Licence • Unauthorized reproduction prohibited 31