TRAVEL AND TOURISM
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prospects in the airline, hotel, travel agency and tour co-ordination fields. Three seminars, each attracting more than 200 people, were also conducted.
Research and Development
The establishment of the Tourism Development Fund in 1996 enabled the HKTA to finance feasibility studies on a number of priority new attractions recommended in the Visitor and Tourism Study for Hong Kong, completed at the end of 1995. So far, subjects studied have included a Hong Kong Exposition, a Film City theme park, the hotel demand and supply, a proposed aquatic stadium/centre, the cruise market of Hong Kong, the Visitor and Recreation Sub-Study at Pak Shek Kok, and development of a strategy for visitor signage and information.
Studies under way include one for an International Wetland Park, an assessment of the resort hotel development market, Phase Two of the Aquatic Stadium/Centre Study, A Green Guide to Hong Kong, Enhancement of Existing Tourist Attractions in Central & Western District, Environmentally Sustainable Development Strategy for the Travel and Tourism Industry in Hong Kong and Hotel Development Information
System. The HKTA was also involved in various government studies.
Looking to the Future
The government attaches much importance to the development of the tourism industry. To that end, there is a three-pronged strategy to promote Hong Kong as a key tourist destination, to enhance Hong Kong's attractiveness and to facilitate entry of visitors to Hong Kong. Ground has been gained on various fronts. For instance, the government provided additional the HKTA with one-off funding of $50 million to launch a new destination campaign in 1998. To enhance Hong Kong's attractiveness, apart from granting the $100 million loan to set up the International Events Fund, the government is also planning for a state-of-the-art new performance venue at the West Kowloon Reclamation. The daily quotas for visitors from the Mainland under the Hong Kong Group Tour Scheme was also increased by 30 per cent starting from July 1998.
In October 1998, in his second Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the appointment of a Commissioner for Tourism to foster and focus efforts to develop the industry in Hong Kong.
Outbound Travel
The Travel Agents Ordinance provides for the control and regulation of agents engaged in outbound travel services from Hong Kong. The Registrar of Travel Agents is appointed under the ordinance to undertake the regulatory functions through a licensing system. Some 1 141 travel agents are licensed. In line with the policy objective of promoting self-regulation of the industry, the licensing system and the work of the Registrar are complemented by that of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC). A travel agent must be a member of the TIC before it is licensed.
The TIC, as the industry's self-regulatory organisation, is mainly responsible for improving trade practices; formulating and enforcing codes of conduct and directives for the industry; collecting statutory levies; handling public complaints and enquiries; and establishing membership criteria and maintaining membership records. Members