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

To set and regulate the prices for all vacation packages sold in Ontario.

Answer

To provide government-funded travel insurance to all Ontario residents.

Answer

To lobby the federal government on behalf of Ontario-based travel agencies and tour operators.

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

Order the agency to provide all affected customers with a free vacation package.

Answer

Seize the personal assets of the agency's owner without a court order.

Answer

Force the agency to merge with a more compliant competitor in the same district.

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

To automatically pay the consumer from the Travel Industry Compensation Fund.

Answer

To represent the consumer in court against the travel agency.

Answer

To force the travel agency to issue a full refund immediately, regardless of the circumstances.

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

An airline that only sells tickets for its own flights directly to Ontario consumers through its website.

Answer

A hotel located in Muskoka that accepts direct bookings from Ontario residents.

Answer

A travel blogger who reviews Ontario travel agencies but does not sell or advise on travel services.

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

Only the designated Supervisor/Manager of a registered travel agency.

Answer

Only individuals who work for large, international tour operators based in Ontario.

Answer

Any customer purchasing a trip valued at over $5,000 from a TICO registrant.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the governance structure of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)?

Accepted Answer

A not-for-profit corporation governed by a Board of Directors composed of both industry and public representatives.

Answer

A for-profit corporation privately owned by a consortium of Ontario's largest travel wholesalers.

Answer

A federal government department that reports directly to the Minister of Tourism in Ottawa.

Answer

A provincial agency managed exclusively by a panel of publicly elected government officials (MPPs).