The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) is a self-managed, not-for-profit corporation, responsible for administering and enforcing the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002 (the “Act”) and Ontario Regulation 26/05 (the “Regulation”) on behalf of the Ontario government (Ministry of Government and Consumer Services – MGCS).

TICO regulates the travel industry in the interest of the travelling public. The Act and the Regulation are consumer protection legislation

Key TICO Responsibilities

 Registration

Travel agents and travel wholesalers selling travel services in Ontario are required to register with TICO. Selling travel services without a registration is an offence under the Act. Currently, there are approximately 2,400 members registered with TICO.

Complaint Resolution

TICO is also tasked with handling of complaints between consumers and registrants, consumers and TICO, and between registrants and TICO.

Compliance and Inspections

TICO has a power to inspect registrants to ensure on-going compliance with the Act, to respond to a complaint or ensure continuous entitlement to registration.

Prosecutions

TICO investigates suspected breaches of the Act. TICO employs investigators who are authorized to lay charges under Part III of the POA. The charges are prosecuted before the Provincial Offences Court, Ontario Court of Justice. In prosecuting those offences, TICO acts in the name and on behalf of the Crown.

Maximum penalty for the individual under the Act is $50,000 fine and/or jail time of two years minus a day. If a corporation is found guilty, it is subject to a maximum fine of $250,000.

Licensing

If the registrant fails to comply with the Act or Regulation or is otherwise lost its entitlement to being registered, TICO has authority to suspend the registration or issue proposals to revoke registration. The proposals are appealable to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, which adjudicates all issues in relation to eligibility to register or remain registered under the Act.

Consumer Protection – Travel Industry Compensation Fund

TICO is responsible for administering the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund. Consumers who paid the registered travel agent for services they did not receive due to bankruptcy or insolvency of a registrant or an airline or cruise line end supplier, are entitled to make a claim to the Fund and receive a reimbursement.

Education and Government Liaison

In addition to administering the Education Standards Program for travel professionals, TICO is actively raising awareness and educating consumers, industry and other stakeholders.

TICO works closely with the MGCS for on issues related to management, regulatory reform, and matters of public interest. At present, TICO is consulting with stakeholders and working with the MGCS in its comprehensive review of the Act and the Regulation.

For more information: www.tico.ca