The operator of the dot-travel Internet domain plans to drop the existing requirement that owners of dot-travel Internet addresses have a functioning website relating to travel.
The move is effective Sept. 20 and is one is one of several changes for the Internet domain recently adopted by registry operator Tralliance.
The existing policy requires companies that register a dot-travel address to use the domain name “for a website displaying travel content relevant to the domain name, or in such other manner (such as email) that the Registry may approve after review.”
That language will be stricken as of Sept. 20 and replaced with a new policy, yet to be disclosed, that will offer “incentives” for the use of dot-travel names.
On the same date, the company will add a 22nd category of travel company to the list of those eligible for dot-travel addresses. The new category is “creators and providers of travel and tourism products, services and content.”
Existing categories include airlines, cruise lines, hotels, restaurants, government tourist offices, travel agents, tour operators, research organizations and “suppliers of goods or services” to eligible industry participants.
Also in September, Tralliance said it plans to implement a program permitting registrants to claim one- or two-charter URLs.
Until now, addresses in the dot-travel domain could not be shorter than three characters. According to Tralliance, the change will permit the registration of “valuable names such as AA.travel, 1.travel and A1.travel.”
Tralliance said the change was recently approved by the Internet’s governing body, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
