What do I need to do to set up a Travel Agency in the UK.
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I want to ascertain at a minimum what I will need to do to start a
travel agency in the UK. This relates to things specific to setting
up a travel agency as opposed to any other type of business so I am
not looking for general info on say, getting a premises, registering the company
etc, just things I need to do specific to a travel agency.

I will like to start off selling scheduled flight Tickets and later on
move to selling package holidays as well.

I understand that I can register with ABTA, IATA and ATOL, but at this
point in time I looking for the minimum requirement that I need to
meet to be able to buy and sell Flight tickets and holiday packages to
the public. I know for certain that IATA registration isn't necessary
and my research shows that ATOL membership while benficial may not be
not necessary. What is the situation with these, what do I legally and
realistically need to do in order to become a travel agent?

With this 'bare bones' agency how do I go about buying airline tickets
and package holidays at wholesale prices for retail? Where do I find
verified contact details of consolidators and others? How and where do
I get a terminal linked to the reservation systems?