ANGELES CITY — The rising number of unsuspecting would-be travellers that fall prey to fly-by-night travel agencies sprouting like mushrooms especially in the Balibago area has prompted the Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies of Pampanga (ATTAP) to urge the city government to be more circumspect in issuing business permits to travel agencies.

In a resolution, the ATTAP said the city government should strictly implement the guidelines provided by the Department of Tourism (DOT) for travel agencies and proposed requirements to improve the issuance of business permits.

Gilda Padua, ATTAP president, said her intention in coming up with their resolution is to professionalize the industry as their contribution in attracting more tourists under the DOT’s initiative with its new slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

Among the proposed requirements are company profile, organizational chart, list of employees, list of suppliers, endorsement letters from international and local tour operators and airlines, proof of industry record of owner or general manager of at least five years working experience in a reputable travel agency, bank certificate showing financial capability of at least P500,000 capital investment, picture and location of office, and sample of tour packages.

Padua said it is lamentable that as of the moment, a new business permit applicant for a travel agency has the same requirements as that of a cellphone e-loading business or even a sari-sari store.

The DOT guidelines are not implemented, she said. Additional requirements should be presented to prove that the travel agency seeking a business permit is legitimate and not just to make it appear that his or her business is legit, she added.

Padua said many Filipinas seeking marriage with their fiance who are foreigners end up being victimized by unscrupulous travel agencies that most often operate with only the owner doubling as the only employee who arranges everything for their clients including the acquisition of fake bank accounts and real estate TCTs for the sole purpose of acquiring visas. Many of the victims are bar workers from Fields Avenue.

These people pay hundreds of thousands of pesos but end up being duped or defrauded. The backlash is felt by the whole tourism industry especially travel agencies, Padua laments.

DOT Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico supports Padua’s initiative saying it is high time that unscrupulous travel agencies be weeded out.

Tiotuico said some of the victims of the so-called fly-by-night travel agencies come to him to complain. “I agree with ATTAP to professionalize the industry beginning with enforcing the rules,” he said.