The tourism service providers play a significant role in promoting the destinations
and products of the State and providing an enriching experience. The Guidelines is being framed with
the objective to recognize and provide support to the eligible Tour Operators, Travel Agents and
Tourist Transport Operators promoting West Bengal. The aim would be to provide skill development and
marketing support to the eligible stakeholders so as to ensure appropriate service standards across
the State.
1. BACKGROUND
The Government of West Bengal, Department of Tourism had been giving recognition to
tourism stake holders in the past for which Rules for Voluntary Recognition of Tour and Travel
Operators was published in April 2006. With the emerging changing trends in the Tourism Sector, it
was felt appropriate to provide proper classification of the various Tourism Stakeholders under
various categories such as Inbound Tour Operators, Domestic Tour Operators, MICE Tour Operators,
Cruise Tour Operators, Adventure Tour Operators, Travel Agents and Tourist Transport Operators and
provide Recognition accordingly.
Further, the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered an unprecedented crisis in the tourism
sector. All these factors have necessitated that a comprehensive Guidelines for giving Recognition
to Tourism Service Providers are introduced appropriately.
Definition
- Tour Operators
A Tour Operator is one who plans, promotes and operates
tours and makes arrangements for transport, accommodation, sightseeing, entertainment and
other tourism related services and activities for tourists visiting destinations within the
state of West Bengal. Tour Operators would include:
- Inbound Tour Operator: Tour Operators Specialized/having expertise
in handling/operating foreign Tourists and promoting West Bengal as a primary
destination in foreign source markets.
- Domestic Tour Operator. (Inter & Intra State): Tour Operators
Specialized/having expertise in handling/operating domestic Tourists and promoting
West Bengal as a primary destination in local and national source markets.
- MICE Tour Operator: Tour Operators making arrangements for
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) held within West Bengal.
- Cruise Tour Operator: Tour Operators Specialized/having expertise
in handling/operating river cruises with accommodation facilities within the state
of West Bengal and exclusively promotes Cruise Tourism in domestic & foreign
source markets.
- Adventure Tour Operator: Tour Operators engaged in activities
related to Adventure Tourism in West Bengal such as mountaineering, rock climbing,
trekking, safaris, bicycling, motorcycling, motoring tours and making required
arrangements for the same.
- Travel Agents
A Travel Agent is one who provides travel services and
makes arrangements of travel related services such as tickets for travel by air, rail, ship,
passport, visa, etc. for the tourists visiting West Bengal, including through the online
mode. They may also arrange accommodation, tours, entertainment & other tourism related
services directly or through tour operators.
- Tourist Transport Operator-TTO
Tourist Transport Operator is one, who
provides tourist transport like cars, coaches, boats etc. to tourists for transfers,
sightseeing and journeys to tourist places, etc. within West Bengal, including through the
online mode.
- "Competent Authority" to grant Recognition of Tour Operators / Travel Agents & Tourist
Transport Operators means the Director of Tourism, Government of West Bengal.
2. APPLICABILITY
This Guidelines is applicable to tourism service providers engaged in the profession/
business/activities of providing services to the tourists, within the State of West Bengal and
include the following:-
- Tour Operators (Inbound, Domestic, MICE, Cruise & Adventure)
- Travel Agents & Tourist Transport Operators
3. CATEGORIES
Recognition may be given to Tourism Service Providers (in the segments of Tour
Operators/ Travel Agents/ Tourist Transport Operators) under the following categories:
- Green Shoots / Start Ups (GSSP): A new organization registered with RoC
(OMC / LLP / Private Limited / Public Limited) which has just ventured into the tourism
sector and has no previous experience in the field of tourism.
- Experienced Tourism Service Providers (ETSP): Those with minimum 03 years
experience in the tourism
sector.
4. PROCEDURE TO APPLY
Recognition may be given to Tourism Service Providers (in the segments of Tour
Operators/ Travel Agents/ Tourist Transport Operators) under the following categories:
- Applications for fresh approval are to be submitted online on the portal. In this regard any
query may be addressed to the Director.
Applications for renewal / extension shall also
be submitted online on the portal.
In this regard any query may be addressed to the
Director.
- The authorized person of the agency is required to get himself registered on the portal and
in the process create User ID and password, which would be unique to him. All communication
would be done on the registered email address and the mobile number of the agency. He will
have to submit (upload) the following documents:-
- A copy of registration of the organisation with Local Authority such as Municipal
Corporation/Gram Panchayat/ District Authority, as the case may be.
(For
Green Shoots/ Start up category, no such document is required to be
submitted).
- The Organization should be registered as a legal entity in the State of West Bengal.
- For paid up capital & turnover requirement, information is required to be given
in the form of Statement duly certified by Chartered Accountant. A template for this
statement is given at Annexure I.
(For Green Shoots/Start up category, no
such document is required to be submitted).
- A copy of complete Audited Balance Sheet with Director's Report for the latest
financial year.
- Bank Certificate with last 06 months statement.
- 3years ITR, GST Certificate, MSME Certificate.
- For address proof-Bankers Certificate showing address of the organization, name of
its promoter/ partners/ Director, as the case maybe.
- Details of staff employed giving names, designation, educational qualification &
experience if any, in tourism field, and length of service in the organization
(copies of certificates to be enclosed):
- Registration Certificates (RC) of the vehicles for the Tourist Transport Operator.
- Details of office premises, whether located in commercial or residential area, exact
office space in sq. ft.
- Documents duly stamped & attested by the Managing Director /Managing
Partner/Proprietor of the firm.
- An undertaking that all documents and information provided are correct and
authentic. In case any such document is found false or fabricated, Department of
Tourism Govt, of West Bengal will be empowered to take suo moto action in the form
of withdrawal/termination/cancelling the registration. The sample of the undertaking
is given at Annexure II.
- An amount of Rs. 1000/-(Rupees Three thousand only) is to be paid through the link
of payment gateway provided on the portal.
** For additional information please see the Notification of Recognition of Tourism
Service Providers 2021.
