Compliance process
Following the approval, ADS operators are
required to submit to ongoing compliance
checks by a compliance monitoring agency
(CMA) engaged by DRET. The goal of the
compliance process is to ensure that the ADS
operators continue to conduct their business in
an ethical manner and in accordance with the
ADS Code of Business Standards and Ethics. As
part of this process, ADS operators must maintain
records of all quotations and tour itineraries.
Operators may also be required to submit
a tour completion report on request to the
CMA outlining any deviations from the original
itinerary and providing justifi cation for
changes.
Another key aspect of the compliance monitoring
process is a requirement for ADS operators
to maintain detailed fi nancial records
(especially with regard to commissions
received) and to contact DIAC within 48 hours
if a tourist leaves the tour group at any time
during his or her visit, or if a traveller acts in
any way contrary to the provisions of his or
her visa. ADS operators are ultimately responsible
for the tourists in their groups, with
penalties for non-complying operators ranging
from suspension to revocation of the operator’s
approval status under the ADS scheme.
Breaches by an ADS operator are also incorporated
into the annual application process and
can adversely affect an operator’s chances of
obtaining re approval.