Ontario Improving Protection For Travel Consumers

Ontario is taking steps to further protect travellers if a tour operator or travel agent goes out of business.

The province today released a report assessing the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) and its ability to regulate Ontario's travel industry. Overall, the report found Ontario's regulation of the travel industry is equal to, or better than, other Canadian jurisdictions but there are opportunities to strengthen consumer protection. 

The report, Assessment of Consumer Protection Against Financial Instability in the Travel Industry, offers eight recommendations for immediate and short-term, which include:

• Require, as a condition of registration, tour operators and travel agents to give notice to TICO of intention to cease operations
• Reviewing trip completion compensation for stranded passengers to ensure it is effective, fair and allows consumers to recover costs should a business close in the middle of a trip
• Enhancement of TICO's website to give consumers more information about compensation options when travel businesses close.

The government intends to implement key components of the recommendations by December 2009.

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