Travel agencies are subject to new regulations (“Regulations”) adopted by Presidential Decree 72/24, of 15 March 2024. Below are the Regulations highlights:
- Angolan travel agencies can provide the following main services:
- Organize touristic trips/tours;
- Make reservations in hotels and other accommodation;
- Sell transportation tickets;
- Represent foreign travel agents;
- Provide support and assistance to customers (airport pick up, transportation, hotel check-in/out, etc).
- Travel agencies can provide the following accessory services:
- Obtain passports, visas or other travel documents;
- Organize events such as conferences, seminars, congresses, summits, meetings, etc;
- Sell event tickets;
- Provide advice and assistance on foreign exchange transactions;
- Assist customers in rent-a-car contracts;
- Sell travel insurance;
- Sell touristic guides;
- Provide touristic transportation;
- Assistance in museum, monuments and historical visits.
- Travel agencies are sub-classified as:
- Travel and Tourism Agencies;
- Tourism Agencies;
- Tourism Operators.
- Travel agencies must obtain a license to be issued by:
- The Ministry of Tourism in case of Travel and Tourism Agencies;
- The Provincial Government in case of Tourism Agencies;
- The Local Administration in case of Tourism Operators.
Licenses are valid for 5 years (renewable).
- Existing licenses will remain in force. However, they must be adjusted to the requirements of the new Regulations within 90 days.
- Travel agencies must post a bond to the licensing entity and take out insurance for their activities. The bond and insurance minimum amounts are set by separate instrument.
- Each travel agency must appoint a duly qualified “Technical Director” (Director Técnico). Technical Directors can only work for one travel agency.
- Licensing entities (Ministry of Tourism, Provincial Government of Local Administration) must keep an updated recorded of licensed travel agencies containing the following minimum information (among other elements):
- Travel agency name;
- Taxpayer number;
- Activity description;
- Location of head office and other offices;
- Names of directors and managers;
- Brand name(s) used by the agency;
- Amount and form of bond(s) provided.
- Travel agencies must have a dedicated offices(s), exclusively used for their activities. The licensing entity may authorize other activities to be carried out in the same office provided they do not pose a conflict with the travel & touristic activities.
- Travel agencies may have sale desks in hotels, airports, railway stations, port terminals, shopping centers or similar places.
- Duly identified staff of travel agencies may have access to the inside areas of airports, ports, railway stations, marinas, customs offices and similar places.
- All travel agency offices must have a “Complaints Book” which must be immediately made available to customers upon request.
- In case of international tourism trips, the travel agency must provide in writing the following information to its customers prior to departure:
- Any visa or passport requirements;
- Health requirements;
- Information on medical assistance in case of illness or accident.
This information may be included in the Trip Program.
- Visits to museums, monuments, classified places, historical centers, etc, must be accompanied by a touristic guide.
- Travel agency contracts must include the following minimum information:
- Details of the travel agency;
- Trip price (including reservation/upfront payment and subsequent payments if applicable) and date;
- Trip itinerary and duration of each stay;
- Participants;
- Accommodation details;
- Transportation details;
- Visits, excursions and other services included in the price;
- Optional services not included in price;
- Trip insurance details;
- Other specific items requested by customer and accepted by agency;
- Customer complaint terms and maximum penalties to travel agency in case of breach of contract.
- Customer may be substituted by another person (who meets the trip requirements) until 7 days before the start of the trip (or 15 days in case of cruises or long-haul flights). However, customer remains jointly liable for payment of the trip price.
- Customer may cancel the trip at any time prior to departure. The travel agency must reimburse customer of any amount(s) paid, less an amount not exceeding 15% of the price and any appropriate costs incurred by the agency.
- If customer is unable to complete the trip for reasons beyond his/her control, the travel agency must provide assistance to the customer until the point of departure or arrival.
- Hotels and other touristic establishments cannot engage in anti-competitive practices, among themselves or in collusion with travel agencies.
- Hotels and other touristic establishments must inform travel agencies in advance in case they post direct rates cheaper than rates charged to such agencies.
- Unless otherwise agreed between the hotel and the travel agency, payment by the travel agency must be made within 30 days of check-out.
- Hotel reservations may be cancelled by the travel agency without penalty if the cancellation is communicated in writing to the hotel:
- 15 days in advance if more than 50% of the reservations are cancelled;
- 10 days in advance if more than 25%, but less than 50%, of the reservations are cancelled;
- 5 days in advance if less than 25% of the reservations are cancelled or in case of individual reservations.
Provided the above advance notice is observed, the hotel must refund the travel agency in full.
- The previous travel agency regulations contained in Presidential Decree 232/15, of 30 December 2015, are revoked.
Has been prepared by OneLegal , to which MC&A is a member.