Govt cracks down on errant travel agencies
Friday, October 23, 2015
Clamp down: Licensing of new travel agencies has been frozen
In a recent public notice, the department announced that the Tourism Industry Licensing Committee (TILC) will not receive any applications for these operations until further notice.
Tourism department director, Kelebaone Maselesele told BusinessWeek the decision to suspend the issuance of travel agency licences was made after the committee received reports of unethical conduct from licensed operators, especially on air ticketing.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...