Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong

Before the Journey

Traditional travel agent

• According to the Travel Agents Ordinance, travel agents which carry on outbound or inbound travel business must first join the TIC and then obtain a Travel Agent's Licence. If, however, a travel agent does not carry on either of these two kinds of business, it may choose to join the TIC without obtaining a licence; in other words, a TIC member may not be a licensed travel agent. Therefore, when you want to buy outbound travel services or products, buy only from licensed travel agents.

• For detailed information about whether a travel agent has a licence, visit the website of the Travel Agents Registry or call it on (852)3151-7945 . Or you may go to this website's " Find a Travel Agent " section for such information or call the TIC on (852)2969-8188. 

Online Travel Agent

• When you buy outbound travel services on the Internet, check whether the services are provided by licensed travel agents in Hong Kong.

• After making the payment on the Internet for a package tour exiting from Hong Kong, make sure you obtain a franked receipt from the licensed travel agent. If you buy from non-licensed travel agents, you will not have any franked receipts and are therefore not protected by the Travel Industry Compensation Fund and the Package Tour Accident Contingency Fund .

• Take account of the risk of buying travel services on the Internet, such as misuse or abuse of personal data, security of online payment and so on.

• Beware of any fake websites which may defraud you of your money and personal information.

• A levy equal to 0.15% of the tour fare must be franked on all tour receipts, including deposit, balance, full payment and temporary receipts, and any documents acting as receipts.

• Charter tours, familiarisation tours, hotel-plus-air packages, and cruise packages are all regarded as package tours, the receipts of which must be franked.

• Obtain a franked receipt from the travel agent after you have paid the tour fare regardless of how you pay it. Check carefully whether all the details of the outbound tour have been set out in the receipt.

• Outbound package tour travellers with receipts showing the payment of the outbound travel service and the levy are protected by the Travel Industry Compensation Fund (TICF) . In the unfortunate case that the travel agent goes bankrupt, affected travellers are entitled to receive from the TICF an ex gratia payment of up to 90% of the tour fare paid.

• Outbound package tour travellers are also protected by the Package Tour Accident Contingency Fund Scheme . Financed by the TICF, the scheme renders financial relief of up to HK$180,000 to tour accident victims and their relatives.

• According to the law, a package tour refers to an outbound travel service which consists of two or all of the following three components: transport which commences in Hong Kong, accommodation and organised activities. As such, one-day tours that assemble and dismiss outside Hong Kong are not regarded as package tours under the definition of law and travel agents need not frank the tour receipts concerned, with the result that participants of this kind of one-day tours are not protected by the TICF and the Package Tour Accident Contingency Fund Scheme.

• Ask your family members or friends to keep all franked receipts for you before departure and bring a photocopy of the receipts with you on the tour.

• For details of the TICF, click here now.

• Make sure you understand the services provided by the travel agent and ask for a list of such services.

• If you purchase a "travel package", you should ask your travel agent what kinds of services (e.g. cross-boundary transport) are included in the package.

• Take out travel insurance that meets your needs and understand its coverage.

• Check whether the Security Bureau has issued any Outbound Travel Alert for your destination before firming up your travel plan to ensure personal safety.

• If travel agents cancel a package tour destined for any destinations (except within Guangdong Province) prior to its scheduled departure, they must notify their clients of the cancellation at least seven days in advance excluding the departure date. Failing that, they must make a full refund of all money paid by their clients, and must also offer to pay 15% of the price of the relevant package tour but not exceeding HK$1,000 to their clients as compensation within three working days.

• If travel agents cancel a package tour destined for Guangdong Province prior to its scheduled departure, they must notify their clients of the cancellation at least one day in advance excluding the departure date. Failing that, they must make a full refund of all the money paid by their clients, and must also offer to pay 15% of the price of the relevant package tour but not exceeding HK$1,000 to their clients as compensation within three working days.

• For enquiries or complaints, call our Consumer Relations Department on (852)2969-8188 or download the Complaint-handling Procedures and Complaint Form for Outbound Travellers or fill in and submit the form online .

• Check the visa requirements of your destination with respective consulates in Hong Kong. You may also refer to the website of the Immigration Department, or call the Department on (852)2824-6111 .

• For information about news of disease outbreaks, vaccinations, health advice, etc, go to the website Hong Kong Travellers' Health Service launched by the Department of Health, or contact the Port Health Travel Health Centre on (852)2961-8840 or (852)2150-7235 for details.

• Tour escorts leading outbound tours must obtain a Tour Escort Pass issued by the TIC and wear their Pass on the chest while on duty. For information about accredited tour escorts, go to the Outbound Tour Escort Directory .