Alexandria, VA; April 14, 2026 – The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) today urged Maryland Governor Wes Moore to veto House Bill 994, warning that the measure would saddle travel advisors with costly new state requirements while doing little to protect consumers from fraud and unscrupulous actors.
HB 994 was introduced following the tragic death of a Maryland couple during a holy pilgrimage organized by an unlicensed tour operator. ASTA acknowledges the circumstances were heartbreaking and expresses deep sympathy for the family, but warned the legislation would place new burdens on legitimate travel advisors without meaningfully preventing similar misconduct.
Specifically, the bill would create a new seller of travel registration program requiring agencies that operate in Maryland or that sell to Maryland residents to register annually with the state, pay escalating annual fees starting at $300 and carry at least $1 million in professional liability and errors and omissions insurance.
ASTA said the measure misses a key point: HB 994 creates a registration regime, not a competency standard, and would do little to identify or deter bad actors. The organization also said the bill fails to distinguish between travel agencies and tour operators, sweeping a broad range of legitimate businesses into a burdensome new regulatory framework.
“ASTA travel advisors share the state’s goal of protecting consumers from scams and unethical conduct, but HB 994 misses the mark,” said Zane Kerby, ASTA President and CEO. “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.”
ASTA represents more than 310,000 travel advisors nationwide including more than 5,000 in Maryland. Ninety-seven percent of travel agencies are small businesses and 80 percent are women owned. The bill would be especially burdensome for small and independent agencies, particularly those that do business in multiple states and may only occasionally work with Maryland residents.
ASTA also noted that the legislation appears unlikely to address the kind of bad actors it was intended to target. Instead, the organization said, the bill would create a new layer of bureaucracy for legitimate travel professionals while raising questions about how the state would enforce the law against businesses located outside Maryland.
“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,” Kerby said. “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.”
ASTA remains committed to consumer protection and ethical conduct across the travel industry. Members adhere to a comprehensive code of ethics, and many participate in programs such as ASTA’s Verified Travel Advisor program, which emphasizes ongoing education, ethics and professional standards.
ASTA stands ready to work with Maryland officials on legislation that fairly protects consumers while supporting the small businesses that help travelers navigate increasingly complex travel experiences.
Tags: Zane Kerby, ASTA
