tickkerala_rules_touroperator

RULES FOR RECOGNITION AS APPROVED TOURIST TRANSPORT OPERATOR
WITH EFFECT FROM 27.11.2003

The aims and objective of the scheme for recognition shall be to promote tourism in India. This is a voluntary scheme open to all bonafide tour operators.

Definition: A Tour operator is one, which makes arrangements for transport, accommodation, sight seeing entertainment and other tourism related services for tourist.

All application for recognition shall be addressed to the Director General of Tourism, Transport Bhawan, No.1, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110 001.

The following conditions must be fulfilled by the Tour Operator for grant of recognition by Department of Tourism.

The application for grant of recognition shall be in the prescribed form and submitted in Duplicate.

The Tour Operator should have a minimum paid up capital (or capital employed) of Rs.3.00 lakhs duly supported by the latest Audited balance sheet/Chartered Accountant’s Certificate.

The Tour Operator has an office under the charge of a full time member of their staff, who is adequately trained/experienced in matters regarding transport, accommodation, currency, customs regulations and general information about travel and tourism related services. However greater emphasis may be given to effective communication skills and knowledge of foreign language other than English. There should be a minimum of four qualified staff out of which at least two should have Diploma/degree in Travel and Tourism from recognized university, IITTM or an institution approved by AICTE. The academic qualifications may be relaxed in case of exceptionally experienced personnel in airlines, shipping, transport, PR agencies, hotels and other corporate bodies and those who have 3 years experience with Department of Tourism approved tour operators.

The Tour Operator should have been in operation for a minimum period of two years before the date of application.

The minimum office space should be of 250 sq.ft. besides the office may be located in neat and clean surroundings and equipped with telephone, fax and computer/computer reservation system etc. The office may be located preferably on Ground Floor or 1 st Floor, if situated in residential area with sufficient space for reception and easy access to toilets.

The Tour Operator will have to be income tax assessee and should have filed Income Tax Return for the current assessment year.

The recognition as Approved Tour Operator shall be granted for three year and renewal thereafter every five years on an application made by the tour operator along with fee.

The Tour Operator will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of Rs.3000/- while applying for the recognition. The fee will be made payable to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Tourism in the form of a Bank draft. The fee for recognition of each Branch office will be Rs.3000/- Fee for renewal will be Rs.3000/- for Head and Branch Offices respectively.

Recognition will be granted to the Headquarter Office of Tour Operator. Branch office will be approved along with the Headquarters officer or subsequently, provided the particulars of the Branch Offices are submitted to Department of Tourism and accepted by it.

The decision of the Government of India in the matter of recognition shall be final. However, the Govt. of India may in their discretion refuse to recognize any firm or withdraw/withhold at any time recognition already granted with the approval of the Competent Authority. Before such a decision is taken, necessary show cause notice would invariably be issued and the reply considered and generally as a last resort. Circumstances in which withdrawal is resorted would also be brought out.

Tour Operator granted recognition shall be entitled to such incentives and concessions as may be granted by Government from time to time and shall abide by the terms and conditions of recognition as prescribed from time to time by the Department of Tourism, Government of India.

Tour Operator should employ only Regional Guides trained and licensed by the Department of Tourism, Govt. of India and State level Guides approved by the State Governments.

APPLICATION FORM FOR RECOGNITION AS APPROVED TOUR OPERATOR WITH EFFECT FROM 27-11-2003

Name and address of Head office and Branch Offices.

Nature of the firm and the year when the firm was registered or commenced business, with documentary proof.

Name of Directors/Partners etc. The detail of their interest, if any, in other business may also be indicated.

Give particulars of staff employed, their qualifications, experience salary and length of service with the firm.

Give details of premises like space in sq.ft. location (whether in commercial or residential area), floor of building, reception area and accessibility to toilets.

Name of Bankers (please attach a reference from your Bankers)

Name of Auditors. Each applicant, as prescribed under Company law, must submit a balance sheet and profit and loss statement pertaining to tour operation business. These audited statements should be in respect of your establishment for the last completed financially year or for the calendar year immediately preceding the date of submission of your application. Also furnish details of your turnover in the following statement.

Particulars of the Tour Operator concerned

(a) Paid-up capital	(f) Fixed assets (excluding (or) capital employed intangible assets)
(b) Loans (i) Secured (ii) Unsecured	(g) Investment
(c) Reserve	(h) Current Assets
(d) Current liabilities	(i) Intangible Assets and provision
(e) Total:	(j) Total:

Notes:

Intangible assets should include goodwill, preliminary expenses, tenancy and business rights, deferred revenue
expenditure, accumulated loss etc.
Reserve should include balance of profit and loss Account and exclude taxations reserve.
Current liabilities and provisions should include taxation reserve.
Current assets should include sundry debts, preliminary expenses, tenancy and business rights, deferred revenue
expenditure, accumulated loss etc.

Copy of acknowledgement in respect of Income Tax Return for the current assessment year should be enclosed.

Whether the firm besides tour operation undertakes any activities.

Membership of International Travel organizations.

(a)	Give details of volume of tourist traffic handled up to the date of application showing foreign and internal tourist traffic separately. Please submit a certificate from Chartered Accountant. This certificate should show the receipt from tour operation only during the financial year or the calendar year immediately preceding the date of submission of your application.
(b)	Clientele: Special tourist groups handled, if any, their size, frequency etc.
(c)	Steps taken to promote domestic tourist traffic and details of the groups handle, if any.
(d)	Special programmes, if any, arranged for foreign tourists.

Number of conferences handled, if any, and the total number of passengers for such conferences with details of locations etc.

Number of incentives tour handled

Please enclosed Demand Draft of Rs.3000/- for each Branch Office as fee for recognition and mention the D.D.No. date and amount in this column. (Rs.3000/- and Rs.3000/- for head office and each branch office respectively if the application is for renewal of recognition)

Signature of Prop. Partner / Managing Director

Rubber stamp of the firm.

Place :

Date:

NB: 1. This application should be submitted in duplicate along with supporting documents.

2. Reference number of Department of Tourism should be quoted if the application is for renewal of recognition.

For more details, write to us.

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