Transitional arrangements for the Tour Escort Pass
The transition from a Tour Escort Pass to a Tour Escort Licence
The full implementation of the new regulatory regime for the travel industry is anticipated to come into commencement on 1 September 2022. Under the new regulatory regime, the Tour Escort Pass issued by the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) must be valid as at 31 August 2022 in order to be taken as a valid Tour Escort Licence by the Travel Industry Authority (TIA).
Application timeline, location, deadline and required documents for the renewal of the Tour Escort Pass
Holders of the Tour Escort Pass must submit their renewal applications by the deadline to the TIC or the TIA, depending on the expiry date of their Passes.
| Tour Escort Pass valid until |
30 September 2020 |
31 August 2022 30 September 2022 31 October 202 |
30 November 2022 or after |
| Location | TIC or TIA | TIC or TIA | TIA |
| Deadline |
TIC： TIA： [Note 1] |
TIC： Valid until 30 September 2022 Valid until 31 October 2022
|
On or after 1 September 2022 [Note 2] |
|
Required documents |
TIC: |
TIC： TIA： |
TIA： |
[Note 1]
The Pass holders must have attended the specified first aid training course organised by the TIA to obtain a certificate of competency in first aid and completed the relevant seminar organised by the TIA and passed the relevant licencing examination to obtain a Tour Escort Licence (in a simplified edition). Please find the details on the TIA website (Chinese only) <Click Here>.
[Note 2]
The validity of the Tour Escort Passes ending on 31 August 2022, 30 September 2022, 31 October 2022 and 30 November 2022 is extended until 1 December 2022. Holders of the Tour Escort Pass may apply for the renewal of the Pass 3 months before it expires or within 2 years after the expiry of the Pass. Please find the details on the TIA website (Chinese only) <Click Here>.
[Note 3]
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Definition of a valid certificate of competency in first aid：
Those who have completed a first aid course or seminar recognised by the TIC within two years before the implementation of the new regulatory regime will be regarded as holding a valid certificate of competency in first aid, or another similar certificate, issued by an institution specified by the TIA.
-
A valid certificate of competency in first aid includes：
- First aid courses recognised by the TIC;
- Attendance certificate issued after attending the TIC’s first aid talk; and
- First aid courses under the CPD Scheme - Item C.
-
Issued date of the certificate:
Before 1 September 2022 and within two years when applying for the renewal of the licence.
The first aid courses or attendance certificate recognised by the TIC
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Having attended the TIC’s first aid talk; or
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Holders of a valid first aid certificate or attendance certificate issued by one of the following six institutions: the Hong Kong Red Cross, Hong Kong St. John Ambulance, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Hong Kong Life Saving Society, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Hong Kong Fire Services Department; or
-
Having completed a training course in first aid and holding a valid certificate to that effect issued by an organisation approved by the Commissioner for Labour (In-service medical professionals or those having retired for not more than two years may apply for exemption but relevant supporting documents must be presented).
Collecting the Tour Escort Pass
The applicants who have submitted their renewal application on or before 1 August 2022 will be notified by an SMS message to collect their new Pass at the TIC by 31 August 2022 or on or after 5 September 2022 at the TIA.
Due to the time required to process the renewal applications, the TIC will send the renewal applications received during the period from 2 to 31 August 2022 to the TIA to continue processing the applications.
Briefing webinars on the transitional arrangements for the Tour Escort Passes and the Tourist Guide Passes
The full implementation of the new regulatory regime for the travel industry is anticipated to come into commencement in September 2022. The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) will organise two briefing webinars on 27 May and 2 June 2022, with a view to making tour escorts, tourist guides and other trade practitioners understand the transitional arrangements for the Tour Escort Passes and the Tourist Guide Passes.
Please click here to browse the video recording of the webinar (in Chinese only).
Enquiry and contact information
|
Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong |
|
| Website: | https://www.tichk.org |
| Telephone: | (852) 2807-1199 |
| E-mail: | [email protected] [email protected] |
| Address: | Rooms 1706-09, Fortress Tower, 250 King's Road, North Point, Hong Kong. (MTR Fortress Hill Station Exit B) |
| Office Hours: |
Monday to Friday Saturday, Sunday and public holidays closed |
|
Travel Industry Authority |
|
| Website: | https://www.tia.org.hk |
| Telephone: | (852) 3698 6088 |
| E-mail: | [email protected] |
| Address: | 8/F, South Island Place, 8 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong (MTR Wong Chuk Hang Station Exit B) |
| Office Hours: |
Monday to Friday |