"The situation distorts the market and is unfair for both tour operators, which must meet rather strict requirements, insure themselves and regularly submit reports about their activities to Tourism Department, and for honestly working agents," it quoted Tadas Zentelis, head of the Division of Tourism Activities Supervision at the Tourism Department, as saying.
In his words, travel agencies are now merely obliged to provide tourists with correct information about their trips.
The department stopped supervising travel agencies some two years ago in an effort to reduce the administrative burden for businesses.
Amendments to the Law on Tourism are currently being drafted and could come into force in early 2018. However, it has not been decided yet what specific requirements will be laid down.
