THE TAIWAN Tourism Bureau (TTB) has begun issuing fines this week to Taiwan FamilyMart and China Travel Service (Macao) for offering a visa service that violates several travel industry regulations.
The two companies launched on August 23 a jointly-run visa service for Taiwanese travellers to China, allowing them to extend their Taiwan Compatriot Entry Permits at any of FamilyMart’s 2,800 locations in Taiwan (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 29). FamilyMart collects applications and fees at its stores, and delivers them to China Travel Service for processing. Later, customers pick up their entry permits at the same store.
Taiwan-based travel agents immediately questioned the service’s legality and complained about its price, NT$499 (US$16.80) per application, roughly NT$200 less than a similar service provided by travel agents.
FamilyMart is not a licensed travel agent, and even though China Travel Service is, it is not allowed to process documents collected by a non-travel entity, according to Taiwan’s Regulations for the Administration of Travel Agents, which stipulates that “A travel agent may not establish a branch institution in a name other than that of the parent, nor may it allow partners or non-travel companies to operate a travel business under its name”.
TTB’s deputy director of hotel, travel and training, Alice Chen, said the service was deceptive. “China Travel Service does the document processing, but FamilyMart is the one that is promoting it. Consumers don’t know this,” she said.
TTB said it would levy a NT$90,000 fine against FamilyMart for each violation, and likewise a NT$50,000 fine against China Travel Service.
FamilyMart spokesperson, Sean Yang, said: “TTB called a meeting with us last week, and asked us to explain how our service does not violate the law.”
FamilyMart is expecting a formal warning letter from TTB based on that meeting, according to Yang. “After we receive this letter, we will discuss it with our lawyer and decide whether or not to continue the service,” he said.
By Glenn Smith
