The application period for the captioned Schemes will be extended until mid-January 2021. Please see Circular C1875 for details.

The Government has enhanced the Travel Agents Incentive Scheme to pay each eligible travel agent HK$120,000 cash incentive at most. The application period now lasts until 15 January 2021. Please click here for the details.

The Government has launched the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme and each eligible travel agent is entitled to a cash incentive of HK$50,000 at most. The application period now lasts until 15 January 2021. Please click here for the details and here for the “List of travel agents organising green lifestyle local tours”.

All eligible members will be provided with a one-off subsidy of HK$80,000 by the Government. Members must register with the Travel Agents Registry by 13 March 2020. For details, please see Circular C1874.

TIC Chairman writes to the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development to urges the authorities to help the industry (Circular C1873).

In view of the impact of the novel coronavirus on the economy, several banks have introduced relief measures to alleviate business owners their financial pressure. Please click here for details.

Certain organisations have set up foundations or introduced relief measures for people and businesses in need in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. See details here.

A list of funding schemes and support offered by the Government and related organisations for members. For details, please refer to the List of Funding Schemes and relief measures for the industry.

In view of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Hong Kong, those who wish to make enquiries or complaints with our Inbound or Consumer Relations Departments are advised to do so by sending an email or leaving a message in the voicemail, rather than paying a visit to the TIC in person. Moreover, counter services are suspended on Saturdays until further notice.

The Transport Department provides a temporary car park for non-franchised buses not in operation. Please see Circular C1872 for details.

The TIC is now pressing the authorities for parking spaces for tour coaches. Members may inform the TIC on or before 21 February 2020 if needed (Circular C1871).

Please click here for the dedicated email addresses of Hong Kong’s receiving agents. The dedicated email addresses of Shenzhen’s outbound agencies can be downloaded here (password not required).

Members who are unable to obtain the latest information of the dedicated email address, please contact our Inbound Department on 2807-1199.

The Department of Health may ask member agents to provide clients’ contact information for the follow-up of infections related to the pneumonia cases in Wuhan (Circular C1870).

Please read the “Cover Story” of the latest issue of The Voice to know how to avoid committing an offence under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

Directive Nos. 243 and 244 about work insurance for tour escorts and tourist guides are replaced by Directive Nos. 246 and 247. Such areas as the coverage of the two kinds of work insurance remain the same except their names (Directive Nos. 246 and 247).

The Annual Report 2018/2019 of the TIC is released today (Circular C1855/“Annual Report”).

The details of the project “Enhancing the Capability of Outbound SME Travel Agents for Service Innovation and Value Creation, Responding to the New Business Challenge” have been uploaded to the TIC website (Latest News).

Inbound agents that need student helpers to receive large parties from cruise ships visiting Hong Kong or offer assistance in MICE events on an ad hoc or temporary basis may contact various universities and tertiary institutions (“ Latest News ”).

Industry members are welcome to use the e-learning platform (in Chinese only) launched by the Quality Tourism Services Association to enhance their service standards.