Quick Answer
Travel companies collect personal data including passport details, visa information, health requirements, and payment details — among the most sensitive data categories under the DPDP Act 2023. Travel agents, OTAs, and tour operators must obtain explicit consent before sharing traveller data with airlines, hotels, and foreign immigration authorities. Cross-border data transfers to overseas hotels and carriers require contractual safeguards.
Quick AnswerTravel companies must limit collection of ID documents to what is required for booking, implement secure document storage, obtain separate consent for marketing, and delete traveller data after the trip unless retention is legally required.
DPDP Compliance Checklist
- Collect passport/visa data only at the point of necessity — not at initial inquiry
- Implement secure storage for travel documents — encrypt and restrict access
- Obtain separate marketing consent — do not use booking data for promotions without opt-in
- Review OTA and hotel partner data sharing — DPDP requires purpose-limited sharing
- Implement trip data deletion within 2 years of travel completion (unless legally required longer)
- Train travel agents and customer service on data minimisation and DSAR handling
- Review WhatsApp itinerary sharing — use secure, expiring links for document delivery
- Publish clear privacy notice covering all personal data collected in booking flow
- Implement 72-hour breach notification SOP — traveller data breaches are high-risk
- Conduct annual DPDP audit of booking platforms, CRM, and partner integrations
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can travel agencies retain passport copies?+
Only for as long as required for the specific trip or by law. Retaining passport copies in a general database after travel completion without legal basis violates DPDP.
Do visa processing services need separate DPDP compliance?+
Yes. Visa processing involves highly sensitive personal data including biometrics. Purpose limitation is critical — data collected for visa processing cannot be used for marketing.
Can travel companies share customer data with hotels and airlines?+
Yes, with customer consent. Sharing booking-essential data (name, arrival details) is generally permissible. Sharing preferences for marketing purposes requires separate consent.
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