KUWAIT CITY, Jan 4: The recent actions taken by the Directorate-General Administration of Civil Aviation have sparked inquiries about their nature and whether they involve existing violations, reports Al-Anba daily. These measures, implemented in the past days, encourage individuals engaged in tourism and travel activities under the administration’s control to review and obtain approvals by prevailing laws and regulations.

The daily investigated the situation and found that the focus of this call is specifically on license holders providing tourism consultations and guidance (known as trip account holders). This pertains solely to offering advice without engaging in reservation procedures for airline tickets or hotels. The DGCA oversees these activities to safeguard the interests of travelers and approved tourism and travel offices, preventing dealings with unlicensed entities amid a rise in fraudulent activities.

Some license holders, initially falling under specialized activities, have now come under civil aviation regulatory authority due to the nature of the services they currently provide. Sources within the DGCA have confirmed that the activities of these license holders, including “brokers,” are continually monitored for compliance with best practices, ensuring customer protection. The Federation of Tourism and Travel Offices corroborates that these measures were not initiated due to complaints from them, but rather as proactive steps taken by the administration to uphold market integrity.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry says licenses for tourist guide and consulting are under review in collaboration with the DGCA, and according to an informed DGCA source those offering tourism guidance and consulting services, without engaging in ticket or hotel reservations, are being monitored for any practices inconsistent with the law. The administration takes preventive measures against those violating the law, including direct referrals to prosecution. Some were already referred before the holiday season.

Abdul Rahman Al-Kharafi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Federation of Tourism and Travel Offices, commended the DGCA efforts in controlling practices within the Kuwaiti tourism and travel market. He emphasized that these measures do not affect tourism and travel companies, as the work of license holders providing guidance aligns with the daily routines of these offices. Furthermore, an official source from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirmed the suspension of licenses for organizing tourist trips and external tourist guidance based on a decision issued by the DGCA. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry is currently examining the legal aspects of the situation to resolve with the General Administration of Civil Aviation. Notably, this activity falls under Ministerial Resolution No. 86 of 2023, amending Resolution No. 82 of 2023.