Technical Director of Travel and Tourism Agency: Requirements
Scheme A) Regulated profession: the scheme does not go into the merits of the requirements but has the sole purpose of recalling the applicable legislation in force by connecting it to the reference framework TAH-CF
Description and main tasks
PTU19: Technical director of travel and tourism agency
Il technical director of travel agency is the person responsible for running the company and carries out tasks of a technical-specialist nature, concerning the production, organization and/or intermediation of trips and/or similar activities and other tourist products.
The Technical Director has the technical responsibility of the travel and tourism agency and has the following main tasks:
- supervises company activities, takes care of their organisation, planning and promotion, managing human resources;
- performs specialized technical functions concerning the production, organization and intermediation of travel and other tourist products.
Similar professional figures:
Reference legislation (Italy)
In Italy, professional qualification is governed by national legislation which delegates authorization to practice tourism professions to the regions. The Ministerial Decree prot. 1432 of 5 August 2021 defines the professional requirements at national level for technical directors of travel and tourism agencies. The Decree provides that the qualification to exercise the activity of technical director is issued by the Regions following verification of possession of the subjective, training and linguistic requirements and is valid throughout the national territory.
Further regulatory sources:
- Tourism Code
- Legislative Decree n. 79/2011
- Art. 29 of Legislative Decree 206/2007 (Implementation of Directive 2005/36/EC relating to the recognition of professional qualifications)
- Law n. 97/2013
- Legislative Decree n. 15/2016
- EU Directive 36/2005 relating to the recognition of professional qualifications
- EU Directive 55/2013 which amends EU Directive 36/2005
- EU Directive 2015/2302 of 25 November 2015 (European package travel directive)
For the updated legislation and the recognition of this figure, please refer to the information indicated on the government website: https://www.ministeroturismo.gov.it/professioni-turistiche/
Further information:
The Technical Director of a Travel Agency is often referred to generically with the term AdV, an acronym for 'Travel Agent'. However, this term encompasses several professional figures who operate within various contexts in the tourism sector, including:
- Traditional travel agencies
- Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
- Tour Operator
- Tourist Promotion Bodies
- Luxury Travel Agencies
The Technical Director of a Travel Agency, unlike the professional figures commonly identified as Travel Agents, is mainly focused on the management and development of the business. This role requires significant managerial skills, as it frequently involves responsibility for making strategic decisions that influence the direction and success of the agency. While travel agents focus on assisting customers in planning and booking their trips, the Technical Director must ensure that the agency operates efficiently and is competitive in the market. This includes managing human resources, optimizing operational processes, developing innovative marketing strategies and maintaining profitable relationships with suppliers and business partners. The ability for strategic vision, combined with solid skills in leadership and financial management, is therefore fundamental for the Travel Agency Director
Profile Evaluation Criteria
Have obtained the qualification pursuant to current legislation. For details, please refer to the sector regulations.
In-depth article: Technical Director: New legislation and 90% harmonization
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