STB revokes travel agency licence

SINGAPORE Pacific Air Travel Pte Ltd (Pacific Air) no longer holds a valid travel agent licence in Singapore according to a Singapore Tourism Board statement issued 5 October.

The company travel agency licence (No 02679) was revoked 20 September 2016, to concur with the Travel Agents Act (Chapter 334).

According to the TA Act, Pacific Air Travel was given until 4 October to submit any appeal against the revocation to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

“Pacific Air’s travel agent licence was revoked as it no longer executed the business of a travel agent and failed to submit the necessary documents for STB to verify compliance with the minimum financial requirements as mandated under the Travel Agents Regulations,” STB stated.

STB is the only licencing authority in ASEAN that clearly identifies changes to travel agency licence status as a service to travel consumers.

It enables travellers, worldwide, to check the legitimacy of travel companies they intend to use for their Singapore travel planning and protects Singaporean travellers from the risk of using a company that has failed to comply with travel agency legislation.

In contrast, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism limits information to an online listing of registered travel agencies in the Thai language, while failing to update changes in status of registered agents. The language limitation and the absence of updates makes difficult for consumers to assess if a Thai travel company is in good standing.

This is particularly relevant for travellers who value an independent assurance that the company they using for their bookings is legitimate and complies with a country’s tourism laws and regulations.

For the latest list of licensed travel agents in Singapore,  visit the Travel Related Users’ System (TRUST) website, https://trust.yoursingapore.com.

Travel agents may also email STB at [email protected]  for related licensing queries.