TRAVEL AND TOURISM
international travel magazine and a radio station in the United Kingdom, has also been received positively.
Convention and Exhibition Travel
Organising travel industry conventions was a highlight of 2000. The HKTA organised the Meetings Industry Association of Australia Conference, the Pacific Asia Travel Association Annual Meeting, the 67th International Union des Foires Annual Congress, the International Congress and Convention Association General Assembly and Congress, and the Society of Incentive Travel Executives International Conference. Together, these events brought more than 3 000 top industry leaders to see Hong Kong's attractions at first hand.
Promoting Hong Kong as the convention and exhibition capital of Asia, the HKTA launched direct mail campaigns for the North American and European markets and participated in trade shows such as annual expositions and meetings of the American Society of Association Executives and the International Association of Exposition Managers. Coming conferences and exhibitions are listed in a calendar available both in print and on the 'City of Life' web site.
Outbound Travel
Travel agents engaged in outbound travel services from Hong Kong are regulated under the Travel Agents Ordinance. The aim of the ordinance is to minimise the occurrence of fraud, and loss to travellers in the event of default of travel agents. The present regulatory system is made up of two components: a licensing system and a self-regulatory mechanism.
The Registrar of Travel Agents is appointed under the ordinance to carry out the licensing function. All travel agents providing outbound travel services must be licensed under the ordinance. At December 31, the number of licensed travel agents totalled 1 165. This requirement provides the first line of protection for consumers against default. It aims to enable the public to identify bona fide travel agents and to prevent undesirable persons from operating as travel agents. Under the ordinance, the Registrar may, after investigation, suspend or revoke the licence of a travel agent found to be operating against the public interest.
The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) is the self-regulatory body of the travel industry. The ordinance requires travel agents to become, and remain, members of the TIC in order to obtain a licence. TIC membership carries conditions, such as minimum requirements for capital, number and experience of staff, and office premises. The TIC sets and enforces codes of conduct to regulate business operations in such areas as advertising and business practices. It is also responsible for collecting statutory levies and handling public complaints about services of its members. Members who breach the rules of the TIC are subject to disciplinary action, including losing their membership with the TIC.
To collect public views on the regulatory regime, the ordinance provides for the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Travel Agents (ACTA). It is chaired by a non-official independent of the travel industry, and its non-official members are drawn from different walks of life. The ACTA regularly reviews the regulatory regime and recommends improvement measures when needed.
307