Competences - Regional Tourism Inspectorate

Competences:

The Regional Tourist Inspectorate (IRT) is an inspection service under the authority of the Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism. It is responsible for promoting and supervising compliance with the legal provisions on matters related to tourism that are not specially assigned to other entities, namely the operation of tourist accommodation, travel agencies and tourist entertainment activities.
Article 38 of the Regional Implementing Decree no.15/2011/A of June 21 sets out the following as the competences of IRT:

a) Inspect, according to the law, all sites and infrastructures related to tourism activities or occupations subject to inspection, namely hotel establishments, local accommodation units, other sites where tourist accommodation services are provided, travel agencies and tourist entertainment companies, including maritime-tourism operators;  

b) Inspect tourism activities developed in land and water vehicles by travel agencies as well as by accommodation or tourist entertainment companies;

c) Evaluate the quality level of the tourism services provided with reference to the standards generally accepted in the national and international market;  

d) Provide information on effective compliance with the applicable regulations to all entities covered by the scope of its activities;  
e) Receive the complaints submitted and ascertain their validity, namely for the purposes of paragraph g);

f) Draw up notices and conduct proceedings for infringement procedures in the area of tourism;  

g) Carry out enquiries, collect information on the activities inspected and conduct administrative offence proceedings, according to the law;  
h) Seal off premises or seize documents and evidence, preparing the respective notices;  

i) Adopt the necessary and urgent precautionary measures for the preservation of means of evidence;

j) Alert the competent departments about infringements brought to its attention that do not fall within its competences;  

k) Collaborate in the rating assessment of hotel establishments as well as in other procedures specifically requested by the Regional Directorate for Tourism or other departments;

l) Collaborate in surveys or other measures specifically requested by regional municipalities;

m) Supervise advertising activities concerning tourism products or services;

n) Supervise compliance with the legislation in force regarding timeshare rights and tourist accommodation rights;  

o) Carry out other inspection and supervisory functions conferred upon it by legislation or regulations.

Constitutive Documents:

Regional Implementing Decree no.15/2011/A of June 21
Organisational structure and senior staff of the Regional Secretariat for Economic Affairs

Regional Implementing Decree no. 9/2016/A of November 21
Organisational structure of the XII Regional Government of the Azores