TICO - Travel Industry Council of Ontario TICO's Role and Mandate Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary mandate of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)?

Accepted Answer

To administer the Travel Industry Act, 2002, and its regulations to promote a fair and informed marketplace for consumers.

Answer

TICO's core mission is consumer protection, which it achieves by administering and enforcing the provincial legislation that governs the travel industry. This includes setting standards for registration, financial conduct, advertising, and education to ensure consumers can travel with confidence.

Question 2

A TICO investigation reveals that a registered travel agency is consistently failing to deposit customer payments into its mandatory trust account. Under the Travel Industry Act, 2002, what is a primary enforcement action TICO is empowered to take?

Accepted Answer

Propose to revoke or suspend the agency's registration to operate.

Answer

TICO has significant enforcement powers to ensure registrants comply with the Act. For serious financial violations like mishandling trust funds, TICO can propose to suspend or revoke the registrant's license, which is a critical step in protecting consumers from further harm.

Question 3

A consumer has a service-related dispute with a TICO-registered agency that does not involve bankruptcy or insolvency. After attempting to resolve it directly with the agency, the consumer files a formal complaint with TICO. What is TICO's main role in this situation?

Accepted Answer

To act as a neutral mediator to facilitate a resolution between the consumer and the registrant.

Answer

For service-related disputes not involving financial failure, TICO's role is to act as a mediator. It facilitates communication to help the consumer and registrant reach a mutually acceptable resolution while also reviewing the issue for any breaches of the Travel Industry Act, 2002. TICO cannot force a resolution or award compensation in these cases.

Question 4

Which of the following entities is required by law to be registered with TICO in order to operate?

Accepted Answer

A home-based business in Ontario that arranges and sells international vacation packages to clients.

Answer

The Travel Industry Act, 2002, requires any person or business that sells travel services in or from the province of Ontario to be registered with TICO. This includes both retail travel agencies and tour operators (wholesalers), regardless of their size or whether they operate from a commercial office or a home.

Question 5

As part of its mandate to enhance industry professionalism and consumer protection, TICO establishes educational standards. Who is required to pass the TICO certification exam?

Accepted Answer

Any person who sells travel services or provides travel advice to the public on behalf of a TICO registrant.

Answer

TICO's Education Standard requires that any individual who sells travel services or provides travel advice directly to the public on behalf of a registered agency must pass the certification exam. This ensures that front-line staff have a foundational knowledge of the consumer protection laws and regulations they must follow.

TICO - Travel Industry Council of Ontario Practice Test

TICO - Travel Industry Council of Ontario Practice Test

TICO - Travel Industry Council of Ontario TICO's Role and Mandate Questions and Answers