296 Travel and Tourism
The HKTB, working closely with overseas business communities, continues to promote Hong Kong around the world as an ideal place for corporate meetings and incentive travels. To encourage international groups to choose Hong Kong for their meetings, the HKTB ran a worldwide convention programme called 'Hong Kong Meeting Your Choice' in February, offering delegates from around the world a networking platform and a chance to experience the special privileges Hong Kong offers to convention organisers. To strengthen Hong Kong's edge as a preferred destination for MICE events, the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development are leading a cross-sector steering committee comprising government and trade representatives to conduct a comprehensive review on how best to reinforce Hong Kong's strengths and devise strategies to underpin MICE development in the years ahead.
Cruise Tourism
Cruise travel is another important, high-yield sector of the tourism industry. In 2007, the throughput of overseas cruise passengers to Hong Kong increased by 52 per cent to more that 626 000. The number of cruise ships that called at Hong Kong in 2007 was 49, an 11 per cent increase over the previous year, highlighting Hong Kong's popularity as a hub for world cruise ships. The Government plans to make Hong Kong a leading regional cruise hub. It has invited tender for the development of a state-of-the-art cruise terminal at the tip of the former Kai Tak. runway, with the first berth to commence operation in February 2012.
Protection of Travellers
Travel agents are regulated by the Travel Agents Ordinance. The aim of the ordinance is to prevent fraud and minimise loss to travellers in the event of defaults by outbound travel agents, and to protect the interests of visitors by enhancing the service standard of inbound travel agents. The present regulatory system is made up of two components: a licensing system and a self-regulatory mechanism.
The licensing function is performed by the Registrar of Travel Agents. All travel agents providing outbound or inbound services must be licensed under the ordinance. At year-end, the number of licensed travel agents totalled 1 440.
The trade's self-regulatory function is performed by the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), an approved organisation under the ordinance. Travel agents must be members of the TIC to obtain a licence issued by the Registrar of Travel Agents. The TIC sets and enforces codes of conduct and issues directives to ensure proper practices. It also handles complaints against member travel agents. Those who breach the TIC's rules are subject to disciplinary action.
A Travel Industry Compensation Fund (TICF) has been set up under the ordinance to provide ex gratia payments of up to 90 per cent of the loss of tour fares to outbound travellers in the event of a default by an outbound travel agent. There were three default cases during the year which affected about 455 travellers involving ex gratia payment of about $960,000.