The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is urging Maryland Governor Wes Moore to veto a new bill that would burden travel advisors with new regulations and fees.
House Bill 994, or the "Don't You Worry (Wurie) Act," was passed by the House and Senate this month, and now heads to the governor's desk.
The bill was introduced in response to the tragic death of a Maryland couple during a holy pilgrimage trip to the Middle East organized by an unlicensed tour operator in 2024.
The legislation seeks to create a new seller of travel registration program requiring agencies that operate in Maryland or sell to Maryland residents to register with the state annually and provide proof of at least $1 million in professional liability and errors and omissions insurance.
ASTA warns that the HB 994 "fails to distinguish between travel agencies and tour operators" and "would do little to identify or deter bad actors" because it doesn't create a competency standard.
"ASTA travel advisors share the state’s goal of protecting consumers from scams and unethical conduct, but HB 994 misses the mark," ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby said in a statement. "This bill would impose new costs and compliance burdens on legitimate small businesses in Maryland and across the country without creating a meaningful enforcement mechanism or restitution fund for harmed travelers."
"We stand ready to assist the Maryland legislature and the Governor in crafting educational certification standards for sellers of travel," he added. "Maryland should not respond to a tragic situation by creating a new system that penalizes honest travel advisors and delivers no real benefit to consumers."
"We urge Governor Moore to veto HB 994 and work with stakeholders on a more balanced approach that protects the public without harming small businesses," Kerby concluded.
ASTA represents more than 5,000 travel advisors in Maryland, the vast majority of whom operate as small businesses.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
