The document outlines proposed revisions to national accreditation standards for travel and tour agencies in the Philippines. Key changes include expanding the scope of accreditation to include online travel agencies, travel agencies providing outbound services, and cooperatives. Office requirements are revised to focus on the office being adequately equipped rather than specifying a size. Documentation requirements are updated to include a summary of sales instead of an audited financial statement and requiring professional indemnity insurance. Fees are adjusted upward and the validity period of accreditation is increased to two years. Grounds for suspension and revocation are also outlined.

1. PUBLIC CONSULTATION
National Accreditation Standards For
Travel and Tour Agencies

2. THE TOURISM ACT OF 2009
R.A. 9593
Formulate and implement a national
standard for the operation and
maintenance of tourism enterprises,
prescribing minimum levels of
quality and efficiency in order to
ensure that facilities and services are
maintained in accordance with
acceptable local and international
standards.
OFFICE OF TOURISM STANDARDS AND
REGULATION
ACCREDITATION DIVISION

3. Why Are Tourism Standards Important?
ENHANCED CUSTOMER SERVICE

4. Why Are Tourism Standards Important?
BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE

5. NUMBER OF ACCREDITED TRAVEL AND
TOUR AGENCIES NATIONWIDE

6. COMPLAINTS RECEIVED
FROM JANUARY – JUNE 2013
Total: 27

7. COMPLAINTS RECEIVED
FROM JANUARY – JUNE 2013
Total: 66

8. a certification issued by the Department
to a tourism enterprise that officially
recognizes it as having complied with
the minimum standards for the
operation of tourism facilities and
services.

9. Benefits of DOT Accreditation
 Marketing and promotional incentives such as
inclusion in travel fairs and events
 Inclusion in website list of accredited enterprises
 Priority to DOT Training Programs
 Endorsement to embassies and travel trade
association/s for utilization of establishment’s
facilities and services
 Endorsement to international and domestic airports
(if appropriate) for issuance of Access Pass to
qualified personnel
 Suggested minimum number of inbound pax: 100
 Issuance of DOT ID card to bonafide employees

10. STEPS IN APPLYING FOR ONLINEACCREDITATION
(New & Renewal Application)
http://accreditationonline.tourism.gov.ph

11. CURRENT
STANDARDS FOR
ACCREDITATION

12. DEFINITION
TOUR OPERATOR - an entity which may either be a single
proprietorship, partnership or corporation regularly
engaged in the business of extending to individuals or
groups, such services pertaining to arrangements and
bookings for transportation and/or accommodation,
handling and/or conduct of inbound tours whether or not
for a fee, commission, or any form of compensation

13. QUALIFICATIONS
 Resident Filipino citizen
 Partnership organized under Philippine laws, at least 60% of
its capital owned by a Filipino citizen
 Corporations organized under Philippine Laws, at least 60%
of the subscribed common or voting shares of stock is
owned by Filipino citizens and the composition of the Board
of Directors being at least 60%

14. OFFICE REQUIREMENTS
 Commercial district
 Easily identifiable
 Exclusive for the travel and tour operations
 Minimum of three (3) employees
• (1 General Manager and 2 permanent staff)

15. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
 For Single Proprietorship, DTI Business Name Certificate
 For Corporations/Partnership, SEC Registration Certificate
 First page of the Articles of Incorporation (AOI) with the seal which also states
the trade name of the entity being applied for
 Articles of Cooperation (for Cooperatives)
 Primary purpose
 First page of Secondary purpose
 List of Incorporators and Capitalization (Articles 7-9)
 Treasurer's Affidavit
 First page of By-laws
 any amendment to the AOI/By-laws as approved by SEC
 General Information Sheet for Renewal
 Mayor’s Permit
 Working Permit from DOLE/Valid Visa from BI (For foreign nationals)

16. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
 Proof of working capital of P500,000.00


For Existing Enterprises: Audited Financial Statement
For New Enterprises: Bank certificate
 Tour packages with itinerary
 For tour operators with branches, affidavit acknowledging the
existence of the branch office
 For General Managers, proof of 3 years managerial experience or
undertaking Tourism Management Course
 For Stand-alone structures, valid Fire Safety Inspection Certificate
 For those applying for service vehicles
 LTO Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration
 Motor Vehicle Personal Accident Insurance (car - P125,000.00, van -P250,000.00)

17. REVISED STANDARDS
FOR ACCREDITATION

18. DEFINITION
TOUR OPERATOR – an enterprise regularly engaged in
the business of inbound and/or local tour operation
such as making online reservations, arranging and
booking for transportation and accommodation,
handling and/or conducting tours for a fee,
commission, or any form of remuneration.
TRAVEL AGENCY – an enterprise regularly engaged in
the business of providing services such as
reservations/bookings, documentation of travel
papers, sales and/or issuance of tickets and selling of
outbound tours for a fee, commission, or any form of
remuneration

19. DEFINITION
TRAVEL AND TOUR AGENCY – an enterprise
regularly engaged in both tour operator and
travel agency services
ONLINE TRAVEL AGENCY – shall mean a
travel agency whose operations are largely
done online through websites dedicated to
travel and tour operations.

20. DEFINITION
INBOUND TOUR – a tour of non-residents of the
Philippines in the country
LOCAL TOUR – a tour of residents of the
Philippines within the country
OUTBOUND TOUR – a tour of residents from
the Philippines to another country

21. QUALIFICATIONS
 Resident Filipino citizen registered as single or sole
proprietorship
 Partnership organized under Philippine laws, at least 60% of
its capital owned by a Filipino citizen
 Corporations organized under Philippine Laws, at least 60%
of the subscribed common or voting shares of stock is
owned by Filipino citizens and the composition of the Board
of Directors being at least 60%
 Cooperative duly organized under Philippine laws

22. OFFICE REQUIREMENTS

23. OFFICE REQUIREMENTS
Office shall be adequately furnished and
properly equipped for the conduct of business.

24. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
 For Single Proprietorship, DTI Business Name Certificate
 For Corporations/Partnership, SEC Registration Certificate
 First page of the Articles of Incorporation (AOI) with the seal which
also states the trade name of the entity being applied for
 Articles of Cooperation (for Cooperatives)
 Primary purpose
 First page of Secondary purpose
 List of Incorporators and Capitalization (Articles 7-9)
 Treasurer's Affidavit
 any amendment to the AOI/By-laws as approved by SEC
 Mayor’s Permit
 Working Permit from DOLE/Valid Visa from BI (For foreign
nationals)

25. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

26. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

27. RENEWAL PERIOD
April 1 to June 30
VALIDITY PERIOD
2 Years

28. SUPERVISION
Surrender of officers’/employees’ ID upon
termination
DOT access to the agency office’s records for
verification of compliance with the standards
Display of DOT Accreditation seal/sticker in a
conspicuous place
Non-transferability of Accreditation
Automatic withdrawal of dormant Applications
(inactive for 60 days)
Periodic Inspection by DOT team
Rectification of defects and deficiencies within a
reasonable period of time

29. ONLINE TRAVEL AGENCIES
 Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) shall comply with the minimum
office requirements although their transactions are largely
done online.
 All websites offering online payment schemes shall be
compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
(PCI-DSS) and be encrypted with Security Socket Layer (SSL)
to ensure that no personal information such as credit card
numbers are stored in the website.

30. WEBSITE INFORMATION
All accredited OTAs and Travel and Tour Agencies
shall display the following in their websites
Correct and full information of the company
including key officials and contact details
Valid accreditation number with expiry date

31. TOUR COORDINATOR/ TOUR ESCORT
The tour coordinator or a foreign tour escort shall
in no circumstance act as a tour guide.
The presence of tour coordinators/tour escorts may
be allowed provided that there is an accompanying
DOT-accredited tour guide .

32. FEES
Accreditation
Lost Certificate -
P3,500.00
P1,000.00
Renewal
-
P2,000.00
Sticker Fee
-
P200.00
ID
Lost ID
-
- P100.00
P100.00
Name Change
-
P3,500.00
Re-assessment -
P1,000.00

33. FEES
SURCHARGE
Additional amount equivalent to 50%of the accreditation
fee for renewals made after June 30 and another 100%
shall be collected for every preceding year thereafter

34. GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION/REVOCATION
A. Making any false declaration or statement or making use of any
such declaration or statement or any document containing the
same or committing fraud or any act of misrepresentation for
the purpose of obtaining the grant of accreditation
B. Failure to maintain the standards and requirements for
accreditation
C. Gross and evident bad faith in dealing with clients / fraudulent
solicitation of business
D. Tolerance of gross misconduct, discourtesy, dishonesty or
misrepresentation committed by any of the operator’s officers
or employees against its clients to the deterrent of the tourism
industry

35. GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION/REVOCATION
E. Employment or hiring of non-DOT accredited
tourism
frontliners or engaging the services of non-DOT accredited
tourism establishments/ vehicles except in areas where there
are no DOT accredited tour guides /trainers / vehicles /
establishments available
F. Failure to specify in any form of advertisement or medium of
information the DOT accreditation number with validity
G. Promoting, facilitating or conducting activities involving drugrelated transactions, prostitution or sex tourism
H. Violation of or non-compliance with any of the provisions of
these rules, promulgated orders, decisions and circulars issued
by the Department and other concerned government agencies;
I. Any other act or omission that works against the interest of the
tourism industry.

36. GROUNDS FOR DENIAL
A. Non-settlement of the complaint filed against them with the Department
B. Cancellation/Revocation of Accreditation
PENALTIES
First Offense - Six (6) months Suspension of Accreditation
Second Offense - One (1) year Suspension of Accreditation
Third Offense - Revocation of Accreditation

37. SUMMARY OF PRESENT AND
REVISED STANDARDS FOR
ACCREDITATION

38. QUALIFICATIONS
Standard
PRESENT
REVISED
Inbound
Outbound with
Inbound and/or
Local
X
Inbound and/or
Local
Outbound
Accreditation of ONLINE
TRAVEL AGENCIES (OTA)
X
✔
Accreditation of
Cooperatives
X
✔
Nature of Operations
Accreditation of TRAVEL
AGENCIES (outbound only)
✔

39. OFFICE REQUIREMENT
Standard
PRESENT
Office Size
Location
Use of Office
Minimum number of
employees
REVISED
20 sq.m.
Commercial
Area/District
Commercial
Building
Exclusively for
Tour Operation
Business
Exclusively for
Tour Operation
Business
3
3
(General Manager & 2
permanent staff)
(General Manager,
Product Development
Officer;and
ticketing/reservation
officer)

40. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
Documents
PRESENT
REVISED
Mayor’s Permit
✔
✔
DTI/SEC Registration and
Articles of
Incorporation/Cooperation
✔
✔
Working Permit from
DOLE/Valid Visa from BI
✔
✔
Tour Package with Itinerary
✔
✔

41. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
Documents
PRESENT
REVISED
Working Capital of
P500,000.00
✔
✔
Audited Financial
Statement
✔
✔
Summary of Sales
Report
Surety Bond
(in favor of LGU)
LGU Requirement
Professional
Indemnity/CGL
with coverage of
P1,000,000.00
X
Proof of Managerial
Experience
✔

42. FEES
PRESENT
PROPOSED
1 Year
2 Years
1,400.00
3,500.00
Sticker
50.00
200.00
ID
30.00
100.00
1,000.00
2,000.00
Validity of
ACcreditation
Accreditation Fee
Renewal Fee
Name Change Fee
3,500.00
Lost Certificate/ID
1,000.00 –Certificate
100.00 –ID
Re-assessment fee
1,000.00