Ontario travel industry regulator TICO is waiving fees for registrants who have voluntarily terminated or allowed their registration to expire during the pandemic.
The organization says it believes this policy will be of benefit to some individuals and/or former registrants who have chosen to voluntarily terminate their TICO registration, allow their registration to expire or leave the industry altogether during the pandemic, but have the desire to re-engage and sell travel services as an Ontario registrant.
"TICO recognizes the difficulty that many registrants have faced resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic," a statement reads.
"While some registrants were forced to make the difficult decision to voluntarily terminate or allow their registration to expire, TICO is pleased to share that effective December 6, 2021, the Registrant Reinstatement Policy has been updated to encourage registrants considering reinstatement to do so without additional fees."
The adjusted policy will be available up to March 31, 2023, for any former TICO registrant that voluntarily terminated their registration or allowed their registration to expire from April 1, 2020, onwards.
The TICO statement adds: "Recognizing the delivery of travel services to consumers has evolved with the advancement of new business models, and the impact of the global pandemic on the travel industry, TICO wishes to ensure that the marketplace remains vibrant and that purchasing options for consumers remains robust."
TICO says there are numerous reasons why a former registrant may wish to reinstate their registration. The organization will approve a reinstatement of any former registrant under the following conditions:
- At the date of the voluntary termination / expiration of a registrant, there must not have been any unresolved compliance issues, claims against the Compensation Fund and/or other outstanding financial compliance requirements.
- At the date of the voluntary termination/expiration of a registrant, all fees owing to TICO, up to the date of the termination / expiration, under the Act or Regulation must have been paid in full.
- The person applying for reinstatement must not have been charged with an offence and a CPIC check will be required.
- If the former registrant has been employed, or contracted, by a TICO registrant, he/she must not have been terminated for reasons associated with the lack of honesty and integrity detrimental to the travelling public, in the view of the registrar.
- All other requirements for registration and renewal are met.
If all the above conditions have been achieved, the former registrant may be reinstated and the new application fee will be waived.
A security deposit will not be required if the former registrant had filed two consecutive annual financial statements or verification statements with TICO, and the Registrar has no concerns with compliance to the legislation.
TICO also says that "all reasonable efforts" will be undertaken to re-issue the same registration number as previously used.
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