Tour escorts are the staff appointed by tour operators to accompany tour groups and to take care of the participants throughout the whole journey. With a view to raising the standard of outbound tour escorts, the TIC Board has decided that tour escorts leading outbound tours must hold a valid Tour Escort Pass (formerly known as "Certified Tour Escort Card"). Information about accredited tour escorts can be found in the Outbound Tour Escort Directory .
Accredited tour escorts may visit Member Agent Vacancies of this website for openings in travel agencies. They may also register their skills and contact information in the Profile Registration section in order for travel agents to find suitable candidates online for recruitment.
Certificate Course for Outbound Tour Escorts and Certificate Examination |
The TIC has specially organised a Certificate Course for Outbound Tour Escorts for those who wish to obtain the Tour Escort Pass.
People who have completed the Certificate Course with an attendance record of 100% are qualified to sit the Certificate Examination. Candidates who have passed the examination will be awarded a certificate. The TIC will notify them in writing of the examination results in four to five weeks' time after the examination. Telephone enquiries about examination results will not be entertained. People who have completed the Certificate Course and have passed the Certificate Examination must apply for the Tour Escort Pass within two years after being notified of their passing the examination.
Application for Tour Escort Pass |
The time limit for first-time applications for the Pass is extended from six months to two years (counting from the day on which the examination results were sent out by the TIC). If qualified applicants apply for the Pass after the application deadline, they will have to pass the Certificate Examination for Outbound Tour Escorts before submitting their application.
Application requirements for the Tour Escort Pass
- 18 years old or above;
- Holders of the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, or holders of the Hong Kong Identity Card who are not subject to any condition of stay;
- Holders of the certificate of the Certificate Course or the notification of passing the examination;
- Form 5 graduates or equivalent, or above;
- Holders of a first aid certificate or attendance certificate issued by one of the following six institutions: the Hong Kong Red Cross, the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance Brigade, the Auxiliary Medical Service, The Hong Kong Life Saving Society, the Hong Kong Police and the Hong Kong Fire Services Department; or having attended the TIC’s first aid talk;
- Signing of a declaration stating that the applicant is physically fit and of good behaviour to be a tour escort, and that there is no other reason that will cause the TIC to consider him/her not fit and proper to be a tour escort; and
- Signing of a declaration regarding whether the applicant has been convicted in Hong Kong or elsewhere of an offence other than a traffic offence.
Renewal of Tour Escort Pass |
The Pass is valid for three years. Pass holders must renew their Pass with the TIC three months before it expires.
Holders of the Tour Escort Pass will be exempted from taking the Certificate Examination if they renew their Pass within two years after the expiry of the Pass . The new Pass will be valid for three years, counting from the day following the day on which the old Pass expires.
Pass holders who renew their Pass more than two years after expiry of the Pass will have to pass the Certificate Examination in order to obtain a new Pass. Candidates who fail the examination may take a resit, and the number of attempts allowed is not limited. The new Pass will be valid for three years, counting from the day on which the Pass is issued.
Change of contact information
The TIC may disseminate news or other information to tour escorts by various means (including SMS and email). In order to keep in contact with the TIC, tour escorts should notify the TIC of any changes in their contact information (correspondence address, telephone number and email address) by completing the form available here and returning it to the TIC Training Department.
Change of name
Tour escorts who wish to change the name on their Tour Escort Pass should download the Application Form for the Change of Name on the Tour Escort Pass , and return the completed form to the TIC Training Department.
Handy Tips for Tour Escorts |
The TIC has compiled the "Handy Tips for Tour Escorts" booklet, which covers general rules for healthy travel, basic first aid, insurance claims procedures and useful telephone numbers. The booklet is distributed to tour escorts together with the Tour Escort Pass and can also be downloaded here .
