Hong Kong 2006
 GO
Chapter 15:
Travel and Tourism
Introduction
Tourism Infrastructure, Facilities and Products
Improving Tourist Appeal
Hong Kong Tourism Board
Protection for Travellers
Home Pages
Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese
Table of Contents Constitution and Administration The Legal System The Economy Financial and Monetary Affairs Commerce and Industry Employment Education Health Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries Social Welfare Housing Land, Public Works and Utilities Transport The Environment Travel and Tourism Public Order Communications, the Media and Information Technology Religion and Custom Recreation, Sport and the Arts Population and Immigration History Appendices PRINT
Protection for Travellers

Travel agents providing services to inbound and outbound travellers are regulated by the Travel Agents Ordinance. The aim of the ordinance is to minimise the occurrence of fraud and loss to travellers in the event of defaults by outbound travel agents, and to protect the interests of visitors by enhancing the service standards of inbound travel agents. The scheme's two principal elements are: a licensing system and a regulatory mechanism operated by the trade.

The licensing function is performed by the Registrar of Travel Agents appointed by the Government. All travel agents providing outbound or inbound services must be licensed under the ordinance. At year-end, the number of licensed travel agents totalled 1 433.

The trade's regulatory function is performed by the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), an approved organisation under the ordinance. Travel agents must be members of the TIC to obtain and hold a licence. The TIC sets and enforces codes of conduct and issues directives to ensure proper practices. It also handles complaints from the public. Member travel agents which breach the council's rules are subject to disciplinary action.

A Travel Industry Compensation Fund (TICF) has been set up under the ordinance to provide ex gratia payments of up to 90 per cent of the loss of tour fares to outbound travellers in the event of a default by an outbound travel agent. There were three default cases during the year which affected about 444 travellers involving ex gratia payment of about $850,000.

The TICF also provides urgent financial assistance to outbound travellers injured or killed in accidents in the course of an activity arranged or organised by a Hong Kong travel agent. There were seven such accidents reported in 2006. The victims were paid about $110,000.

A training and accreditation, system drawn up by the TIC to ensure the service quality of tourist guides went into effect on November 1, 2002. With effect from July 1, 2004, travel agents are required to assign only those tourist guides holding a Tourist Guide Pass to receive visitors to Hong Kong.
2005 I 2004 I 2003 I 2002 I 2001 I 2000 I 1999 I 1998 I 1997