TORONTO — TICO is waiving registrant fees for the third straight year as a way to help Ontario’s travel agencies and wholesalers navigate through the ongoing financial challenges of the pandemic.
The fee waiver, says TICO, was made possible through a temporary funding arrangement with the Ontario government, which allows the organization to continue its operations in support of consumer protection.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, TICO has worked closely with the Ontario government to find ways to support our registrants,” said Richard Smart, TICO’s CEO and Registrar. “We appreciate the government’s continued assistance and funding through these unprecedented times. While there are many challenges ahead, TICO remains committed to its mandate of strong consumer protection and the recovery of Ontario’s travel marketplace in the years ahead.”
TICO has offered fee waivers to registrants for the last two fiscal years, beginning on April 1, 2020. The second fee waiver period was set to expire on March 31, 2022.
According to TICO, the fee waiver allows registrants to focus on their priority business needs without the added financial stress of meeting certain payment obligations with TICO.
Here’s how it works:
- Travel agencies and wholesalers will receive a fee waiver for annual registration renewal fees and Travel Industry Compensation Fund payments (Form-1) owed to TICO from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The waiver applies to all registrants registered with TICO as of March 31, 2022.
- Registrants are still required to complete and submit their Registration Renewal Form (without payment) and their Form-1 (without payment) by the filing deadline.
Any questions can be directed to tico@tico.ca or toll-free at 1-888-451-TICO (8426).
As a reminder to registrants, both the provincial and federal governments are offering further business supports. Click here for more information about provincial programs, here for the federal Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP), and here for other federal programs.
