The travel industry has become an important sector in driving economic growth, cultural exchange and job opportunities around the world. Travel agencies that are operating in countries where there are economic development orders, complying with national value-creation programs, are very important. In-Country Value Certification is a program introduced by the UAE to measure how much a company contributes to the national economy, particularly through local spending, employment and investment.
In-Country Value Certification is a structured program made to measure and reward a company’s contribution to the country’s economy. It measures how much value an organization creates within a country through local spending, employment of nationals, skill development, technology transfer and investment in local infrastructure and enterprises. The result is a score that represents the company’s contribution to the UAE economy.
Originally made for sectors such as energy and trade, it’s now expanding into service industries, including the travel industry. A certified agency can participate in national economic development objectives and sign government as well as semi-government contracts.
Each component is given a specific weight and the combined score determines the rating and certification level.
In countries like the UAE, where the government focuses on supporting the national economy, travel agencies can participate in major government and semi-government contracts with the help of an ICV certificate. Many companies prefer to work with certified agencies as they are trustworthy and support the national development goals.
Getting an ICV certificate score is proof that your company is contributing to the country’s economy. Hiring local employees, working with local suppliers and investing in local companies are some ways to contribute to the economy.
Many countries focus on economic diversification and strengthening local businesses. ICV certification helps travel agencies align with these national plans, making it easier to gain approvals, build partnerships and grow their business.
ICV certification helps travel agencies stand out from competitors who do not have it. Having a high score can help your company have an advantage over your competitors and make your agency look trustworthy.
Before starting the process to get certified, your agency should understand the ICV framework and scoring criteria. Knowing how data like your local hiring, procurement and training is evaluated helps to prepare accurate documents.
Certified auditors are appointed to review the company documents and evaluate compliance. Travel agencies should select an approved auditor, often designated by authorities overseeing the ICV framework in a specific country or sector.
Documents the agency will need to submit:
Contracts and agreements with domestic service providers
After the document submission by the Travel agency, the auditor will review everything and assess the agency’s contribution based on scoring metrics. This assessment will then determine the agency’s ICV score and its eligibility for certification.
After evaluation, the auditor will issue an ICV certificate with a score indicating the company’s level of in-country economic contribution. Many certifications are valid for a specified period (commonly one year or 14 months), after which recertification or renewal is required.
To maintain and improve ICV scores over time, travel agencies should track local workforce development, supplier engagement and training initiatives. These continuous improvements will strengthen future certification results.
The travel and tourism industry is an essential contributor to economic development and cultural connectivity. In this context, ICV certification is an important tool that allows travel agencies to align with national economic priorities, improve competitive advantage and show contributions to local development.
For travel agencies, ICV certification is more than just a certificate. It gives them a strong business advantage, helps them win new opportunities, builds trust with partners and investors and supports long-term, sustainable growth.
