Business license for the travel industry 

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Getting a business license is necessary before running a travel-related business in Taiwan.  The related regulations are promulgated in Act for the Development of Tourism (發展觀光條例)

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Hotel license (旅館業執照)

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Those intending to operate the tourist hotel enterprise, before operation, shall complete the application to the central administrative authority for approval, making corporate registration according to law and receiving the license to operate the tourist hotel enterprise.  ~Act for the Development of Tourism Article 21

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The scope of business for the tourist hotel enterprise is as follows:
1. Accommodation for lease.
2. Operation of restaurants, conference centers, venues for leisure activities and shops.
3. Other business related to tourist hotels approved by the central administrative authority.
The competent authorities, having consulted with the related competent authorities, may promulgate related regulations to maintain the peaceful environment for lodgers in tourist hotels.  ~Act for the Development of Tourism Article 22

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Tourist hotels are graded according to their buildings, quality of facilities, management, administration and service methods.
The central administrative authority shall collaborate with the Ministry of the Interior to promulgate the regulations concerning standards for the building and facilities of tourist hotels.   ~Act for the Development of Tourism Article 23

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Those intending to operate the hotel enterprise, before operation, shall complete the corporate or commercial registration according to applicable laws, application to local administrative authority for registration, obtaining registration certificate, and being issued the exclusive trade logo.
The administrative authority, having consulted with the related competent authorities, may promulgate relevant regulations to maintain the peaceful environment for lodgers in hotels.  ~Act for the Development of Tourism Article 24

 

Travel agency license (旅行業執照)

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The details of the travel agency regulations are promulgated in Regulations Governing Travel Agencies(旅行業管理規則 )

 

The establishment, change or dissolution of travel agencies, issuance of operating licenses, operation and management, punishing and rewarding, and management and the training of travel agency managers and staff shall be administered by the Tourism Bureau under the commission of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (hereinafter“theMOTC”).Commissioned operations along with related legal grounds shall be announced and publicized in government bulletins or newspapers.   ~Regulations Governing Travel Agencies Artcle 2

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Travel agencies are divided into Consolidated travel agencies, Class-A travel agencies, and Class-B travel agencies.
 

Consolidated travel agencies can:
1.) Sell passenger tickets for domestic or foreign land, sea, and air transportation operators, or to buy domestic or overseas passenger tickets.
2.) Handle inbound and outbound procedures and visa applications for travelers.
3.) Soliciting of business from or receiving domestic and overseas tourists, and arranging for their tours, food, accommodation, and transportation.
4.) Arranging domestic and overseas tours, food and accommodation, and transportation for travelers as well as related services, through chartered or self-organized tour packages.
5.) Commissioning of Class-A travel agencies to solicit business as indicated in the preceding sub-paragraph.
6.) Commissioning of Class-B travel agencies to solicit domestic tour group business as indicated in sub-paragraph 4 of this article.
7.) Handling of communication, promotion, and price quotation on behalf of foreign travel agencies.
8.) Planning of domestic and overseas tours, and arranging for tour guides or tour managers.
9.) Providing of advice on domestic and overseas tours.
10.) Operating other domestic and overseas tour-related businesses as approved by the central administrative authority.

 

The minimum amount of the paid-in capital: NT$30 million. A capital increase of NT$1.5 million shall be required for each new domestic branch.

Registration fee: One-thousandth of total invested capital. One-thousandth of capital increase for a branch.

Guarantee deposit: NT$10 million. NT$300,000 for each branch.
 

Class-A travel agencies can:
1.) Sell passenger tickets for domestic or foreign land, sea, and air transportation operators, or to buy domestic or overseas passenger tickets.
2.) Handle inbound and outbound procedures and visa applications for travelers.
3.) Soliciting of business from or receiving domestic and overseas tourists; arranging for their tour, food, accommodation, and transportation.
4.) Arranging of overseas tours, food and accommodation, and transportation for travelers as well as provision of related services, through self-organized tour packages.
5.) Soliciting of businesses as indicated in sub-paragraph 5 of the preceding paragraph on behalf of consolidated travel agencies.
6.) Handling of communication, promotion, and price quotation on behalf of foreign travel agencies.
7.) Planning of domestic and overseas tours, and arranging for tour guides or tour managers.
8.) Providing of advice on domestic and overseas tours.
9.) Operating other domestic and overseas tour-related businesses as approved by the central administrative authority.

 

The minimum amount of the paid-in capital: NT$6 million. A capital increase of NT$1 million shall be required for each new domestic branch company. 

Registration fee: One-thousandth of total invested capital. One-thousandth of capital increase for a branch.

Guarantee deposit: NT$1.5 million. NT$300,000 for each branch.

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Class-B travel agencies can:
1.) Sell passenger tickets for domestic land, sea, and air transportation operators, or to buy domestic passenger tickets.
2.) Soliciting of business from or receiving domestic tourists or foreigners with legal residence permits, including the people of the Mainland Area, the residents of Hong Kong and Macau; arranging for tours, food and accommodation, and transportation; and providing of related services.
3.) Soliciting of businesses related to domestic group tours on behalf of consolidated travel agencies as indicated in sub-paragraph 6 of Paragraph 2 of this Article.
4.) Planning of domestic tours.
5.) Providing of advice on domestic tours.
6.) Operation of other domestic tour-related businesses as approved by the central administrative authority.

 

The minimum amount of the paid-in capital: NT$1.2 million. A capital increase of NT$600,000 shall be required for each new domestic branch company of a Class-B travel agency. 

Registration fee: One-thousandth of total invested capital. One-thousandth of capital increase for a branch.

Guarantee deposit: NT$600,000. NT$300,000 for each branch.

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~Regulations Governing Travel Agencies Article 3, Article 11,  Article 12

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A travel agency shall be incorporated and operated exclusively for travel businesses

~Regulations Governing Travel Agencies Article 4

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A travel agency and its subsidiaries shall each assign at least one manager to be responsible for supervision and administration of its business.
The managers of a travel agency as indicated in the preceding paragraph shall work exclusively for the travel enterprise on a full-time basis.  ~Regulations Governing Travel Agencies Article 4

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