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Travel and Tourism
HONG KONG'S out-bound travel business is carried out by some 1 000 travel agents who are licensed by the Registrar of Travel Agents under the Travel Agents Ordinance enacted in August 1985.
The Travel Agents (Amendment) Ordinance 1988, which provides the statutory frame- work for the self-regulation of the out-bound travel industry, was enacted in July. With this enactment, a travel agent must be a member of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong in order to be licensed.
The council, as the approved representative of travel agents and tour operators in Hong Kong, also admits association members. They comprise the Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents Limited, the Federation of Hong Kong Travellers Limited, the International Chinese Tourist Association Limited, the Society of IATA Passenger Agents Limited, the Hong Kong Taiwan Tourist Operators Association Limited and the Hong Kong Associa- tion of China Travel Organisers Limited.
Tourism
Some 5.5 million visitors came to Hong Kong in 1988, an increase of 24 per cent over 1987. As a result, the tourism industry earned an estimated $34 billion during the year, an increase of 33 per cent over the 1987 figure.
The visitors came primarily from Japan (22 per cent), Taiwan (20 per cent), the USA and Canada (16 per cent), Southeast Asia (14 per cent), Western Europe (14 per cent) and Australia and New Zealand (five per cent). The relaxation of out-bound travel restrictions in Taiwan was reflected by a growth of 210 per cent in visitor arrivals from that country.
Hong Kong Tourist Association
The Hong Kong Tourist Association (HKTA) is a statutory body set up in 1957 to develop Hong Kong's tourism industry. It furthers the development of Hong Kong as a tourist destination, promotes the improvement of facilities for visitors, markets Hong Kong's visitor attractions overseas and advises the government on matters relating to tourism. The aims amount to optimising the returns on investment in developing the tourism product.
In December 1988, the association had 1 716 members, comprising airlines, hotels, travel agents, tour operators, cruise carriers and retail, restaurant and other visitor service establishments.
The Chairman of the HKTA and the Members of its Board of Management are appointed by the Governor. The HKTA receives an annual subvention from the govern- ment to assist it in furthering its objectives. It also derives funds from membership dues, sale of publications and souvenirs and from tours.