Contacts through social networks open a gap for unregulated ticket sales that allow any irregularities.
Faced with a wave of scams for the sale of air tickets, Nicola Furnari, director of the Higher Council of Tourism (Conseturismo), provided recommendations for travelers to avoid this type of fraud.
Furnari explained that the first suggestion for those looking to buy tickets or packages is to verify whether the agency has a tourism license or a National Tourism Registry (RCN).
To be sure that you are contacting a responsible company that provides quality service, you must confirm that you are dealing with a business; For example, the Venezuelan Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (Avavit) who have asked their affiliates to include the association’s logo in their advertisements.
It should be noted that there are about 200 agencies listed on the Avavit website, with an option for users to confirm whether they indeed belong to the union.
During his time at the head of the association, Furnari noted that due to the pandemic, 15% of agencies have closed, however, nine new companies have been added so far this year.
Note with tickets in social networks
Contacts through social networks open a gap for unregulated ticket sales that allow for any irregularities, said Farnari, who is also an advisor to Avavit’s current board of directors.
He suggests that they should be cautious that they have your phone number and public address. “The recommendation is that everything should not be done online and the existence of the agency should be verified in some way or the office should be visited,” he stressed.
Because of the countless reports of scams, they set up a channel for claims. “Due to our close ties with Mintur and Inac, we have worked to find ways to trace these agencies and remove them from circulation,” Furnari said. .
The former president of Avit said that they also work with airlines and are not just travel agency scams. On the other hand, there are agents who do not follow the code of conduct which was recently launched at Avavit, just to differentiate true travel agents from any tourism salesperson.
“What was sought with this is that airlines find out when these tickets are being sold for one-way or cancellable immigration purposes, which are in some way violating the immigration laws of the destination country,” he added. Are.”
He explained that to travel to a country you must have an exit ticket, “If someone does not produce the relevant permit or if they do not have documents or citizenship, residence, business or educational permits, this person will not be able to stay.” in that country”, hence the warning of the difference in prices at the air ticket office.
