To ensure the quality of the services provided and the safety of travellers, the Cyprus Government has licencing regulations in place for the set up and operation of Travel Offices and Tour Operators in Cyprus.

Travel Offices

The Tourism and Travel Offices and Tourist Guides Law (41(I)/1995) (the “Travel Office Law”) regulates the licensing and operation of Travel Offices in Cyprus. The Travel Office Law prohibits the provision of the following Travel Services, unless a Travel Office Licence is obtained:

• The organisation of any kind of travel, conferences and tours in Cyprus or abroad,
• The issuance or the arrangement for the issuance of travel tickets for any kind of means of transport,
• The arrangement for the transportation, guiding and accommodation of organised groups or individuals, and
• The performance of any related activity for the facilitation of the accommodation and the transportation of travellers and the carriage of their luggage.

Travel Office Licencing and Requirements

Entrepreneurs wishing to establish a Travel Office need to submit a relevant application with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, as the competent authority for the issuance of Travel Office Licences.

To ensure the quality of the services rendered and the safety of travellers, the Travel Office Law requires that the Director of a Travel Office has either a university degree/diploma in the field of tourism, or relevant work experience in a Travel Office.

Among other requirements, a physical office is required for the operations of a Travel Office, whether independent or in a shared space with other companies of the same group of companies or which offer complementary or related services.

A monetary guarantee of €15,000 needs to be deposited with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism for the issuance of a Travel Office Licence, to satisfy any claims submitted by travellers against the Travel Office.

A Travel Office Licence is granted for a 5-year period and can be renewed for further 5-year periods with the payment of the applicable licensing fee.

Travel Packages: Tour Operators and Requirements

Travel Offices which sell ‘Packages’ need to obtain the additional Tour Operator Licence.

The Package Travel and Associated Travel Arrangements Law (186(I)/2017) (the “Package Travel Law”) defines a ‘Package’ as the combination of at least 2 of the following Travel Services in the same trip or holiday:

• the carriage of passengers,
• accommodation which is not intrinsically part of carriage of passengers and is not for residential purposes,
• the rental of
  • Cars and/or motor vehicles, or
  • Motorcycles,
• any other tourist service not intrinsically part of a travel service within the meaning of the definition of the term ‘travel service’.

The Package Travel Law imposes a duty on Tour Operators to ensure the smooth completion of the Package, to provide compensation for non-compliance with advertisements made for the Package and to provide assistance to any travellers who face any problems while travelling.

Accordingly, Tour Operators who resell Packages organised by third parties established outside the European Union, need to ensure that the (Non-EU) Organiser complies with the minimum requirements imposed on Tour Operators by the Package Travel Law, or in certain cases, the Tour Operator will need to deposit a monetary guarantee (in addition to the Travel Office Guarantee) to satisfy any claims of travellers who purchase a Package.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

It is important to note that the provision of Travel Office and/or Tour Operator services without the necessary licence(s), constitutes a criminal offence, punishable with imprisonment and/or a monetary penalty.

Should you wish to find out more, contact our team at info@paraschou.com.cy.