Register as an inbound tourism operator

You'll need to be registered as an inbound tour operator if at least 20% of the travel packages you sold in the last 12 months were for Queensland-based tours to overseas travellers (or inbound tours).

Individuals or corporations must register before working as inbound tour operators and your registration must remain current.

You must be registered before you can sell Queensland-based travel packages to wholesalers, retailers or corporate buyers from overseas.

You don't need to be registered if you:

• operate on a not-for-profit basis
• allocate your profits to a community purpose, such as a charity
• less than 20% of the travel packages you’ve sold in the past 12 months were for inbound tours
• work as a tour guide.

Complying with legal requirements

As an inbound tour operator, you must comply with all Queensland and Australian travel service laws, including the:

• Tourism Services Act 2003 (Queensland)
• Fair Trading Act 1989 (Queensland)—includes the Australian Consumer Law
• Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Australia).

You must also comply with the mandatory code of conduct for inbound tour operators.

Eligibility

To be eligible to register, you must be 18 or older and be a suitable person.

You're not suitable to be registered as an inbound tour operator if you:

• are affected by bankruptcy action
• are an externally-administered body corporate
• are currently disqualified from holding a licence or registration
• have been convicted of a serious offence within the past 5 years.

We also consider whether you:

• have a criminal history
• were an executive officer of a corporation that's insolvent
• were disqualified from holding a licence or registration
• are disqualified from being a company director
• are allowed to work in Australia.

Serious offences

A serious offence is anything punishable by 3 or more years in prison, including:

• offences that relate to administering justice or public authority
• violent offences (including threats to use violence)
• fraud and dishonesty
• drug trafficking
• extortion
• arson
• unlawful stalking
• an offence of a sexual nature.

We look at offences under Queensland, interstate and federal laws.

How to apply

To register, fill out the application for registration as an inbound tour operator form.

You can apply as an individual, a partnership or another type of corporate entity.

You can submit your form:

• in person at an OFT contact centre
• by post to
  • Industry Licensing Unit
    Office of Fair Trading
    GPO Box 3111
    BRISBANE  QLD  4001.

Supporting documents

You'll need to attach your identification to your application form.

We'll need to site an original or a certified copy of of either your:

• birth certificate or extract
• passport
• driver licence
• citizenship certificate

If you're not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you'll need to:

• give us a certified copy of your passport
• have a visa that allows you to work in Australia.

If you have special conditions on your visa, you must give us a written statement from an officer of the Department of Home Affairs that explains how the conditions affect your right to work.

Fees

You will need to pay the required fees when you lodge your application.

Criminal history check

To confirm your suitability, we'll submit your application for a criminal history check. This will be thorough and can be time consuming.

Processing time

It takes 4 to 6 weeks to process your application. It can take longer if your application isn't complete because of missing information or unpaid fees.

We'll contact you if you've submitted an incomplete application. If you don't complete it, we may withdraw your application.

Refunds

Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to a partial refund if:

• you withdraw your application
• we refuse your application.

Your criminal history check fee may also be refunded if the process hasn't been started yet.

Training

There are no training requirements for this registration.