TRAVEL AGENCIES ACT, 1976

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THE TRAVEL AGENCIES ACT, 1976 
(XXX of 1976) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title extent and commencement. 
2. Definition. 
3. Committee. 
4. Licensing of Travel agencies. 
5. Exemption from application. 
6. Prohibition to act without license, etc. 
7. Business guarantee fund. 
8. Service charges. 
9. Alterations. 
10. Discontinuance of business, etc. 
11. Suspension or cancellation of licence. 
12. Complaints, Appeal and review. 
13. Appeal. 
14. Penalty. 
14-A.  Indemnity. 
15. Delegation of powers. 
15-A.  Issuance of ticket 
16. Power to make rules.
 
TEXT 
THE TRAVEL AGENCIES ACT, 1976 
(XXX of 1976) 
[11th May, 1976] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the development, regulation and control of the profession of travel 
agencies in 1[Punjab]. 
WHEREAS it is necessary and expedient to provide for the development, regulation 
and control of the profession of travel agencies in 2[Punjab]; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:­ 
1. Short title extent and commencement.­ (1) This Act may be called the 
Travel Agencies Act, 1976. 
(2) 3[It extends to whole of the Punjab]. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definition.­In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context,— 
(a) "Committee" means the Travel Agencies Regulatory Committee set up 
by the 4[* * *] Government under section 3, 
5[(aa) “Controller” means the Controller as appointed under the Punjab Hotels 
and Restaurants Act, 1976 (LXXXI of 1976), and includes a Deputy 
Controller, an Assistant Controller and an Inspector, and such other 
persons as may be authorized by the Government by notification in the 
official Gazette to perform all or any  of the functions of the Controller 
under this Act; 
(aaa) “Government” means Government of the Punjab;] 
(b) "licence" means a licence granted under this Act to any person to 
operate as a travel agency; 
(c) "licenced guide" means a guide licensed under the law for the 
regulation and control of the profession of tourist guides ; 
                                                           
1Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
2Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
3Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.3. 
4Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
5Inserted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.4. 
 
(d) "prescribed" means prescribed under the rules ; 
(e) "rules" means rules made under this Act; 
(f) "travel agency" means a person, by whatever name called, who­ 
(i) makes, directly or indirectly, on commercial basis arrangements 
for the passage of the tourists, or use of transport, or 
transportation of their baggage or goods by sea, air, rail or road; 
or 
(ii) makes arrangements for lodging, transport or other services 
relating to travel of persons within Pakistan or arranges 
entertainment, sight­seeing, excursion and guide services, 
whether the arrangements are made on the basis of 
comprehensive all inclusive r ates or on the basis of separate 
charges for each service provided ; or 
(iii) has been delegated general authority in respect of sales for the 
airlines or other carriers, either directly or through a sub­contract; 
and 
6[(g) “tourist” means a person who travels within the Punjab for touring, 
recreation, sports, study or religious pilgrimages or for any other purpose 
as the Government may, by notification, specify.] 
3. Committee.­ 7[(1) The Government shall set up a committee to be known as 
the Travel Agencies Regulatory Committee consisting of a Chairman and such other 
members as the Government may determine.] 
(2) The Chairman and other members of the Committee shall hold office 
during the pleasure of the 8[* * *]  Government on such terms and conditions as the 
9[* * *] Government may determine. 
(3) The committee shall perform the following functions, namely:— 
(a) advise the 10[* * *]  Government in the implementation of the 
provisions of this Act and the rules ; 
(b) approve the rates of service charges of travel agencies in respect 
of various services rendered by them to the tourists ; 
                                                           
6Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.4. 
7Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.5. 
8Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
9Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
10Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendmen t) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
 
(c) advise the 11[* * *]  Government from time  to time in respect of 
licence fees to be prescribed for various services rendered by the 
travel agencies ; 
(d) assist the 12[* * *]  Government in the preparation of a code of 
conduct for travel agencies ; and 
(e) such other functions as are connected with the objects of this Act 
and as the 13[* * *] Government may entrust to it. 
4. 14[Licensing].­ (1) Any person operating or intending to organize and operate 
a travel agency 15[or to act as a guide]  shall apply to the 16[* * *] Government on the 
prescribed form to the grant of a licence. 
(2) Subject to sub­section (3), on receipt of an application under 
sub­section (1), the 17[* * *]  Government may, on payment of the prescribed fee by 
the applicant, grant to the applicant a licence in the prescribed form. 
(3) A licence shall not be granted to an applicant if­ 
(a) the applicant, or the  manager or any partner or director of the  
applicant, has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion 
of the 18[* * *] Government, involves moral turpitude; 
(b) the applicant is a minor or insane person; 
(c) the financial position of the applicant is, in the opinion of the 19[* * 
*] Government, such as would prevent the applicant from acting 
as a travel agency efficiently; 
(d) the applicant has had no experience  of travel arrangements 
required to operate  the business of a travel agency and has not 
employed persons who have had such experience; or 
                                                           
11Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
12Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
13Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
14Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Ga zette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.6. 
15Inserted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.6. 
16Omitted b y the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
17Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
18Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
19Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
 
(e) the applicant does not have an office of a prescribed minimum 
standard or does not engage experienced and trained employees 
or licensed guides or does not provide such transportation 
facilities as may be prescribed. 
(4) The 20[* * *]  Government shall maintain a register in which the names, 
addresses, nature, composition and the field of operation of all licenced travel 
agencies shall be entered. 
(5) The licence shall, unless earlier cancelled or suspended under section 
10 or section 11, remain valid for one year and may be renewed from year to year or, 
at the option of the travel agency, for a period upon five years] in such manner, and 
on payment of such fee, as may be prescribed. 
21[(6) The Government may renew an expired licence wit hin five years of its 
expiry subject to such inquiry as may be deemed necessary.] 
5. Exemption from application. This Act shall not apply to— 
(a) enterprises operated by the State; 
(b) national carriers of Pakistan and foreign airlines, duly authorised  to 
operate to, from or via Pakistan; or 
(c) any agency, whether private or official, which is specifically entrusted by 
Government with the work relating to handling of Haj pilgrims or other 
pilgrims, within or without Pakistan, and who are subject to spe cial 
regulations governing their field of activity. 
6. Prohibition to act without license, etc. Subject to section 5—(1) no person 
shall hold himself out or act as a travel agency 22[or a guide] unless he holds a 
licence. 
(2) no airline or other carrier shall delegate general authority in respect of 
sales, either directly or through a sub­contract, to a person who does not hold a 
licence. 
 
23[6-A. Powers of Controller .– Without prejudice to any other powers of the 
Controller under this Act, the Controller may: 
 
(a) seal a travel agency if it is not licensed under this Act; 
(b) seal a licensed travel agency if it fails to deposit the annual fee 
or it does not comply with the directions of the Government 
issued from time to time; 
(c) inspect, during working hours, the office or premises of a travel 
                                                           
20Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021 ), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
21Added by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.6. 
22Inserted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.7. 
23Inserted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amen dment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.8. 
 
agency or of a guide to ensure that the office or the premises is 
maintained in accordance with the rules and terms and 
conditions of the licence;  
(d) require assistance from the district polic e for implementation of 
this Act; and 
   (e)   impose administrative penalty provided under section 14 of the 
    Act.] 
7. Business guarantee fund.— 24[(1) A licensed travel agency shall maintain in 
a designated scheduled bank, such business guarantee fund or cash guarantee of 
such minimum amount as may be prescribed.] 
(2)  No amount shall be payable out of a business guarantee fund 
maintained by a licensed travel agency under sub­section (1) except to 
the order of the 25[* * *] Government. 
(3)  The 26[* * *] Government may, after making such inquiry as it may deem 
fit and after giving a travel agency an opportunity of showing cause 
against the order proposed to be made, order payment, out of the 
business guarantee fund of the travel agency, of any sum owed by the 
agency to a tourist, carrier, company or hotel or lodging house and not 
settled by it within thirty days from the date of its becoming due. 
(4)  A travel agency from whose business guarantee fund payment of any 
amount has been made under sub­section (3) shall, within a period of 
fifteen days of such payment, deposit the said amount into the business 
guarantee fund. 
8. Service charges.— (1) The rates of service charges from the tourists shall 
be set out in a rate list drawn up by a licensed travel agency from time to time and 
approved by the Committee. 
(2) A copy of the rate list referred to in sub­section (1) for the time being in 
force shall be posted at some conspicuous part of the office of the travel agency. 
9. Alterations.— A licensed travel agency shall, on payment of the prescribed 
fee, have every change in its nature or composition or its field of operation entered 
in the register maintai ned under section 4, within fifteen days of the day on which 
such change occurs. 
10. Discontinuance of business, etc .— In the  case of discontinuance  or 
transfer of business, dissolution, re­organisation or winding up of a licensed travel 
agency, the 27[* * *] Government shall be informed by the agency within thirty days of 
                                                           
24Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.9. 
25Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
26Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
27Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
 
such discontinuance, transfer, dissolution, re­ organization or winding up, and on 
receipt of the information, the 28[* * *]  Government may either cancel the licence  
granted to the travel agency or, in the case of transfer of business or reorganization, 
grant a new licence to the transferee travel agency or to the travel agency as 
re­organized. 
11. Suspension or cancellation of licence .— The 29[* * *]  Government may, 
after affording a licensed travel agency an opportunity of showing cause against the 
action proposed to be taken against it by order in writing, suspend the license of the 
travel agency for a period not exceeding six months or cancel its licence if the 
agency— 
(a) violates the provisions of this Act or the rules or the terms and 
conditions of the licence or the prescribed code of conduct; 
(b) suspends its business without intimation to, or permission of, the 30[* * *] 
Government and does not resume it within six months from the date of 
such suspension or within the time specified by the 31[* * *] Government; 
(c) contravenes the provisions of sub­section (1) or sub­section (4) of 
section 7; or 
(d) becomes a person to who m a licence cannot be granted under 
sub­section (3) of section 4. 
12. Complaints, Appeal and review.— Any traveller having a complaint against 
any travel agency may approach the Committee which shall dispose of the same in 
the prescribed manner. 
32[13. Appeal.– (1) Any person aggrieved by an order under this Act may, within 
thirty days of the date of such order, prefer an appeal to- 
(a) the Deputy Controller, where such order has been passed by an 
Assistant Controller or an Inspector;  
(b) the Controller, where such order, not being an order passed in 
appeal under clause (a), has been passed by a Deputy 
Controller; and 
(c) Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department, where such 
order, not being an order passed in appeal under clause (b), has 
                                                           
28Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (X IV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
29Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
30Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
31Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendmen t) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2. 
32Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.10. 
 
been passed by the Controller. 
 (2) Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department may of its own 
motion, or on the application of any owner or manager of a travel agency aggrieved 
by an order passed under sub -section (1), except an order under clause (c) of 
subsection (1), w ithin the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, pass such 
order in relation thereto as it thinks fit. 
 (3) No order against the owner, manager, partner or director of a travel 
agency shall be passed under this section unless he has been given an opportunity of 
showing cause against it and of being heard.] 
33[14. Penalty.– Any travel agency which contravenes or fails to comply with the 
provisions of this Act or the rules or violates the prescribed code of conduct shall, 
without prejudice to any other action that may be taken against it under this Act, be 
punishable, for the first offence, with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand 
rupees and for subsequent offence with a fine which may extend to two hundred 
thousand rupees or with the sealing of the premises or both.] 
34[14-A. Indemnity.- No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against 
the Government, the Controller, any officer or authority of the Government, or a 
member of the Committee in respect of anything which is done in good faith under 
this Act.] 
35[15. Delegation and supervision.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, direct that any of its powers under this Act shall, subject to such 
conditions as may be specified in the notification, be exercised by the Controller or 
any other officer of authority of the Government, in such manner as may be 
prescribed. 
 (2) The Controller may, by notification in the official Gazette, delegate any of 
its powers under this Act to the Deputy Controller, Assistant Controller and Inspector. 
 (3) Subject to t he provisions of this Act, the Controller shall perform 
functions and discharge duties under the general supervision and control of the 
Government. 
 (4) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of such orders as may from time 
to time be made by the Govern ment, Deputy Controllers, Assistant Controllers and 
Inspectors shall exercise their powers and perform functions under the general 
supervision and control of the Controller.] 
36[15-A. Issuance of ticket .- A travel agency may hold passport of a tourist for 
                                                           
33Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.11. 
34Inserted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.12. 
35Substituted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.13. 
36Added by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.14. 
 
issuance of air ticket and confirmation of seats from airlines or organizing group tours 
for citizens of Pakistan to a foreign country.] 
16. Power to make  rules.—(1) The 37[* * *]  Government may, by notification in 
the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing 
power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— 
(a) the fees payable for the issue and renewal of a licence, 
depending on the nature of the services to be rendered by an 
applicant to tourists and the number of branch offices the 
applicant proposes to establish; 
(b) the form in which an application for a licence is to be made; 
(c) the form of the licence; 
(d) the code of conduct; 
(e) the conditions to which a licence shall be subject; and 
(f) the manner in which, and the  time within which, an appeal under 
this Act may be preferred. 
                                                                                                                                                                                        
 
37Omitted by the Punjab Travel Agencies  (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 ( XIV of 2021), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated:  25th March 2021, pp. 7389-7392 s.2.