Canada's Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA Canada) has submitted comments derived from responses to its survey of Québec based agents to Madame Kathleen Weil, Québec's Ministre de la Justice et Procureure générale. The survey, conducted via e-mail between May 17th and 20th received 927 responses concerning proposed changes to regulations under Québec's Travel Agents Act.
In summarizing the responses, ARTA says that 95% of the comments were against the proposed amendments Following a web-based survey which drew 927 responses from travel agents in Québec, 95% of the respondents were against the proposed amendments.
The only proposal that received a positive response related to the operating of a travel agency from a home, but restrictions limiting the distance between the residence of the travel counsellor and the licensed travel agency affiliate were most heaviy criticized. Respondents also expressed their concerns about requirements for certificates and examinations without recognition of experience or existing levels of education and formal training. Restricted licenses to conduct various types of travel businesses also came in for criticism by the majority of respondents. Proposed financial requirements for licensing and reporting were considered burdensome to travel agencies.
Download the English version of ARTA Canada's full letter of submission summarizing their survey here .
