In the meantime carefully consider yourskills and resources before starting. Determine upfront what

BUSINESSWISE: The first thought that came to mind when I received your question was whether a travel agency would be a good business to start now, particularly given the widely held view that the industry is waning.
In fact, in 2011, United States (US) President Barack Obama drew the ire of American travel agents when he described the profession as obsolete. I'm in no position to make such a pronouncement. However, I suggest you pay close attention to the long-term industry outlook and use that data to guide you in deciding whether los angeles union station and how to start this business, an issue I will return to later.
Starting a travel agency los angeles union station is no easy undertaking and requires significant time, skill and financial outlay. They are also subject to strict local and international regulations. In fact, there is a law which specifically governs travel agencies in Jamaica, known as the Travel Agencies Regulation Act, which can be found at the website of the Ministry of Justice - www.moj.gov.jm .
According to Pamela Reese, los angeles union station managing director of Jetaway Travel Service and president of the Jamaica Association of Travel Agents (JATA), there are many local and international requirements that must be met.
Reese estimates that the process los angeles union station of registration, approval and licensing los angeles union station can take up to two years. The first step in satisfying the local requirements is to register your company or business name with the Companies Office los angeles union station of Jamaica.
a) Evidence of good character and integrity by way of two recommendations from a commercial bank, attorney-at-law, justice of the peace, or any other person satisfactory to the registrar. For companies this must be shown for each director;
b) Evidence of financial ability to operate a travel agency by way of a bank guarantee or other evidence satisfactory to the registrar, indicating the availability of sufficient funds to provide working capital for at least three months to cover overheads los angeles union station like
An application for registration must be made for each location you plan to operate. You must also satisfy certain human resource requirements,including having on staff a trained travel agent with at least five years experience, another with at least two years experience los angeles union station and a cashier.
After receiving your application, the RTA will inspect your premises and examine the relevant documents to determine whether to grant the application. If approved, each registered agency must pay an annual registration fee of J$2,000.
los angeles union station So far I've only outlined the local requirements. In order to carry out your main function of booking and selling international airline tickets and other such arrangements you must fulfill international requirements mandated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In the meantime carefully consider yourskills and resources before starting. los angeles union station Determine upfront what you must do to differentiate your agency and gain a competitive los angeles union station edge � which brings us back to the industry outlook.
In 1995 the US had 30,000 registered travel agencies, yet by 2012 that number had reduced los angeles union station by more than 60 per cent to under 10,000. The decline has been blamed on major reductions los angeles union station in commission paid by airlines and increased direct sales by airlines to customers online. Airlines also offer services traditionally provided by travel agencies such as booking car rentals and tours.
To compete los angeles union station effectively agencies must increase value added services, find niches and fortify their value proposition. Aim to use your travel planning expertise and resources to save customers time and money while delivering the best possible travel experience.