ENG-1993 — Page 359

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Cares Courtesy Awards Programme for members of the service industry, which received more than 1500 nominations from visitors from 46 countries. For the first time, the association joined forces with Radio Television Hong Kong's Radio 2 service to promote this programme of activities. The campaign closed with the Courteous Hong Kong, Beautiful City carnival in May. The bi-annual Hong Kong Tour Co-ordinator of the Year Award

programme was also held in 1993, drawing more than 10 000 nominations from

visitors.

For the 26th year, the HKTA organised the Student Ambassador Programme, under which 100 students heading overseas for their tertiary education took part in a month-long programme of briefings to increase their awareness of various aspects of Hong Kong, which would enable them to talk more knowledgeably about their home. The Tourism Ambassador Badge scheme for Hong Kong's Scouts also continued to be popular. A total of 200 Scouts have now earned their badge by attending a special workshop on the tourism industry in Hong Kong and by helping visitors at the HKTA's information and gift

centres.

The association publishes regular reports on the performance of the tourism industry and conducts surveys which monitor changes in the basic demographics of all visitors, their activities, spending patterns and attitudes towards Hong Kong's tourism facilities.

Outbound Travel

Hong Kong's outbound travel business is operated by some 1 100 travel agents who are licensed by the Registrar of Travel Agents under the Travel Agents Ordinance. The ordinance provides the statutory framework for regulation of the outbound travel industry. To be licensed, a travel agent must be a member of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong.

The council is an approved organisation of travel agents in Hong Kong. It comprises eight association members: Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents Limited; Federation of Hong Kong Travellers Limited; International Chinese Tourist Association Limited; Society of International Air Transport Association Passenger Agents Limited; Hong Kong Taiwan Tourist Operators Association Limited; Hong Kong Association of China Travel Organisers Limited; Hong Kong Outbound Tour Operators' Association Limited; and Hongkong Japanese Tour Operators Association Limited. The council regulates member travel agents through codes of practice and directives. Members who breach the rules of self-regulation risk losing their council membership and their licence to operate.

The self-regulatory scheme for the industry was strengthened with the implementation of the Travel Agents (Amendment) Ordinance 1993 on October 15, 1993. The reforms include the enhancement of the regulatory regime for the outbound travel industry; the offer of increased protection to consumers; the provision of a secure source of finance for the council to carry out its self-regulatory efforts; the establishment of a Travel Industry Compensation Fund for the payment of ex gratia compensation to aggrieved out- bound travellers; and an independent management board appointed by the Governor to administer the fund. The fund took over the assets and liabilities of two former compensation funds-the Travel Agents' Reserve Fund under the Travel Agents Ordinance; and the Travel Industry Council Reserve Fund, which was introduced in 1988. If a licensed travel agency collapses, aggrieved outbound travellers may claim ex gratia compensation of 80 per cent of their paid outbound tour fares from the new fund.

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