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Checks on travel agents
Following is a question by the Hon Howard Young and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mrs Regina Ip, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question: Regarding travel agencies operating without licences, will the Government
inform this Council:
Reply:
(a) what action does the responsible department take to check those agencies;
(b) how many travel agencies operating without licences were prosecuted in
the past four years; and
(c) whether current legislation prohibits organisations or societies from organising package group tours without paying the Travel Industry Council (TIC) levy or issuing stamped receipts to people who join such tours?
Mr President,
In reply to part (a) of the Honourable Member's question, the Registrar of Travel Agents, who is the licensing authority for travel agents, and the Travel Industry Council, which is the self- regulatory organisation of the outbound travel industry, work together closely in monitoring the activities of unlicensed travel agents.
A private company has been engaged by the Travel Industry Council to conduct covert checks on travel agents. It reports cases of suspected unlicensed travel agents to the Travel Industry Council which then passes the information to the Registrar. Licensed travel agents are also encouraged to report cases of suspected unlicensed travel agents to the Registrar of Travel Agents, who will refer suspected cases to the Police for investigation.
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