Overview
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario is a self-managed, not-for-profit corporation that was formed in 1997 to administer the Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002. It assumed responsibility from the Ontario government, currently the Ministry of Consumer Services. Although TICO administers the Act, authority for regulation and legislation remains with the Ontario government.

TICO is a wholly financed by bi-annual registration fees paid by Ontario travel agencies and travel wholesalers. The Travel Industry CompensationFund is financed entirely by Ontario travel industry registrants through contributions based on their sales revenues.

TICO has its own Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer and manages its own financial and operational affairs. CEO Michael Pepper is also Registrar of the Travel Industry Act, 2002. TICO's 15-member Board of Directors consists of 10 industry representatives and five ministerial appointees.


Mission and Mandate
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario's mission is to promote a fair and informed marketplace where consumers can be confident in their travel purchases. We also support the mission of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services to maintain a fair, safe and informed marketplace as it relates to Ontario's Travel Industry Act, 2002.

We accomplish this through developing high standards and efficient, effective and relevant regulatory mechanisms in areas such as:

  • consumer protection
  • consumer education and awareness
  • registration, inspection, supervision and discipline of registrants
  • investigating and mediating disputes between consumers and registrants

TICO has set up programs to support our mandate that aim to promote fair and ethical competition in the industry, support a Code of Ethics, maintain and enforce consumer compensation programs and encourage legislative and regulatory amendments aimed at industry professionalism and consumer confidence.

Stakeholders -- In carrying out its mandate, TICO works with many principal stakeholder groups, including:

Consumers -- to increase awareness of their rights and responsibilities under the Travel Industry Act, 2002


Registrants and industry associations -- to harness their knowledge and commitment to ethical and open communication


Government -- who has delegated responsibility to and holds TICO accountable for administering the Travel Industry Act, 2002