Travel Agents and Practitioners Support Scheme and Hotel Sector Support Scheme open for applications

     Following the approval of the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council today (April 18), the Travel Agents and Practitioners Support Scheme and the Hotel Sector Support Scheme are now open for applications. The deadlines for applications are June 15, 2020, and May 18, 2020 respectively.

     The schemes will provide the following subsidies for the tourism trade:
 
(1) A subsidy ranging from $20,000 up to $200,000 to each licensed travel agent, depending on the number of its employees. Some 1 730 agents are expected to benefit from this scheme;

(2) A monthly subsidy of $5,000 for six months to each travel agent’s staff and freelance accredited practitioners whose main occupations are tourist guides or tour escorts. Some 26 000 persons are expected to benefit from this scheme; and
 
(3) A subsidy of up to $400,000 to each licensed hotel. About 300 hotels are expected to benefit from this scheme.

     The application details of the schemes are available at Tourism Commission’s website (www.tourism.gov.hk).

     The Government will also provide financial assistance to the cruise industry under the Anti-epidemic Fund, including waiving the monthly fixed rent and the management fees of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal for six months as well as refunding cruise lines of berth deposits for cancelled ship calls during the suspension of immigration service at the cruise terminal when they schedule other ship calls in future. The Government will inform cruise terminal operators and relevant cruise companies of the details separately.