A travel agency is a private retailer or public service that provides travel and tourism related services to the public on behalf of suppliers such as activities, airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, travel insurance, and package tours. In addition to dealing with ordinary tourists, most travel agencies have a separate department devoted to making travel arrangements for business travelers; some travel agencies specialize in commercial and business travel only. There are also travel agencies that serve as general sales agents for foreign travel companies, allowing them to have offices in countries other than where their headquarters are located.

A travel agency’s main function is to act as an agent, selling travel products and services on behalf of a supplier. Consequently, unlike other retail businesses, they do not keep a stock in hand, unless they have pre-booked hotel rooms and/or cabins on a cruise ship for a group travel event such as a wedding, honeymoon, or a group event. A package holiday or a ticket is not purchased from a supplier unless a customer requests that purchase. The holiday or ticket is supplied to the agency at a discount. The profit is therefore the difference between the advertised price which the customer pays and the discounted price at which it is supplied to the agent. This is known as the commission. In many countries, all individuals or companies that sell tickets are required to be licensed as a travel agent.

Get UAE Tourism Agency License

To start a travel and tourism business in Dubai an apt tourism license is a must! Typically 3 types of tourism activities need travel company license in Dubai:

• Travel Agency Activity License
• Inbound Travel Operator Activity License
• Outbound Travel Operator Activity License

Choose your type of license accordingly. The application for an inbound/outbound license is to be filed with the Department for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, travel agency license with the Department of Economic Development.

Ensure the right documents

After you deposit the requisite amount with the concerned authority, you’ll have to submit the following documents:

• Application Form
• Passport copies of each foreign applicant
• Education and experience certificates of Manager
• Clean criminal record certificates of the owner & the manager
• For UAE Nationals, Khulasat-Al-Qaid and a copy of Identification documents.
• NOC from the Civil Aviation Authority
• Feasibility Study report

Office premises for Travel Agency

Office space is a vital requirement in getting a license. There has to be at least a 30 square meter office space for each activity.

Starting a Travel Agency in Dubai – the Process

• Pay the initial approval fee to the DTCM
• Request the approval of trade name of the travel agency
• Supply an insurance policy;
• Submit a lease contract and the blueprint of the location where the travel agency will operate. The contract must be signed for at least three months