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Travel Agencies/Wholesalers/Tour Operators
The following is meant solely to help the reader understand the main features of primary regulations governing this activity, and not meant in any way to provide a legal interpretation.
Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act:
Note: The Business Practices & Consumer Protection Authority provides a complete information package on registering as a Travel Agent/Wholesaler/Tour Operator on their website. (see "Primary Contact"). The Business Practices & Consumer Act requires travel agencies and travel wholesalers in the province selling or offering travel services to the public to register and pay an annual fee.
In addition to paying an annual registration fee, agents in British Columbia are required to contribute to the Travel Assurance Fund - a fund held in trust for the protection of B.C. residents who have placed their trust in travel arrangements made through agents, and do not receive the services for which they have paid.
The Act requires an agency to have a business address. A travel agency cannot be operated out of a home address.
The following classes of persons are exempt from the Act:
-An operator of one-day sightseeing tours whose principal business is providing sightseeing tours.
-A person providing guide services only where no other travel services are sold.
-A person providing sightseeing attractions where no other travel services are sold.
-A public carrier, while providing one day tours
-A person who is qualified to teach in an elementary school, secondary school, university, college or an institute of technology; and who is employed full time in a capacity responsible for arranging travel services for the students of the school, without direct or indirect gain or profit.
-An operator of a motel, hotel, resort, or other accommodations, who, as incidental to his/her
primary business, offers local travel services purchased from another person.
Act: http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/B/04002_00.htm
Primary Contact:
BPCPA - Business Practices & Consumer Protection Authority
P.O. Box 9244
Victoria, BC, V8W 9J2
Tel: (604) 320-1664 Toll Free: 1-888-564-9963
Fax: (250) 920-7181
http://www.bpcpa.ca
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