The Canary Islands Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators (ACAVyT) has issued a press release this Monday morning after learning that a business in Playa Blanca has allegedly scammed dozens of people in the purchase of tickets.
First, they have deeply regretted "what happened" and have expressed their "solidarity with all those affected by this serious incident." In this way, it has indicated that it harms both consumers and the image and confidence in the Canary Islands tourism sector."
Next, they have assured that the denounced company "is not a travel agency, but a tourist intermediary." Thus, they have clarified that, according to current regulations in the Canary Islands, a tourist intermediary is "the natural or legal person that carries out mediation activities in the sale or organization of tourist services, such as booking tickets, accommodation or excursions, but without the legal capacity to organize and sell combined trips, an activity reserved exclusively for travel agencies."
For its part, a travel agency is the tourist intermediary that, in addition to the above activities, is legally authorized to organize and sell combined trips, meeting much stricter requirements in terms of guarantees, insurance and administrative control. These requirements exist precisely to protect consumers and guarantee the return of amounts paid in the event of insolvency or fraud.
Thus, they have recommended to consumers that legal travel agencies must:
- Have mandatory guarantees and insurance to respond to any incident or insolvency, thus protecting customers.
- Be registered and authorized by the Canary Islands tourism administration.
- Be clearly identifiable by the official plate with a yellow background and white letters "AV" next to the license number granted by the Government of the Canary Islands.
From ACAVyT they have strongly recommended "always going to legally constituted travel agencies, which offer all the guarantees and protection to the consumer. Official identification is the best way to ensure that it is an authorized company."
Finally, they have asked the administrations for "greater supervision and control of companies that advertise themselves as travel agencies without being legally constituted, as this practice confuses consumers and seriously damages the reputation and work of the professional sector."
