The travel agents in Punjab have sought reduction in licencing fee, simplification of the process of licence application, besides raising the issue of power for search and seizure.
Hailing the enactment of Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, they placed the demands in the meeting of the representatives of Punjab Travel Agents Association (PTAA) and Association of Consultants for Overseas Studies (ACOS) with the state NRI Affairs Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday.
The representatives made a detailed representation along with suggestions regarding the registration of travel agents, immigration agents and overseas studies consultants under the Act.
During the meeting, the travel agents welcomed the licensing regime introduced by the state government, describing it as a need of the hour to regulate the profession of providing visa-related consultancy and other travel and ticketing services.
They raised the issues of power for search and seizure, complaints disposal system, submission of monthly reports, simplification of the process of license application, reduction of licensing fee, mandatory license for any company or individual soliciting business from Punjab besides an awareness campaign for both the industry as well as the individuals.
Majithia informed them that their suggestions would be discussed with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal so that all issues raised by them should be sorted out with mutual understanding.
Presiding over the meeting, Majithia pointed out that the Act was aimed to identify the unscrupulous elements who were fleecing the innocent people under the garb of travel agents by issuing fake advertisements in media.