Travel Industry Authority to take over licensing and regulatory functions of travel industry

     The new regulatory regime of the travel industry will be implemented in full tomorrow (September 1). In the new regulatory regime established under the Travel Industry Ordinance (Cap. 634), the Travel Industry Authority (TIA) will take over the functions of the Travel Agents Registry (TAR) in respect of issuing licences to travel agents, and the functions of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) in respect of issuing passes to tourist guides and tour escorts, and regulating the industry respectively. The TIA will also be responsible for managing the Travel Industry Compensation Fund and collecting levies from travel agents. The TAR will be disbanded and the TIC will cease its works in relation to issuing passes and regulation on the same day.
      
     The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said that the implementation of the new regulatory regime of the travel industry is an important step for enhancing the professionalism of the trade and promoting the long-term healthy development of the travel industry of Hong Kong. The Government will work closely with the TIA and the trade to ensure that the new regulatory regime will be implemented in an orderly manner.
      
     "I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the TIC for its efforts in regulating the trade over the years," he added.
      
     The TIA is a statutory regulatory body of the travel industry established under the Travel Industry Ordinance. It is mainly responsible for the licensing and regulation of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts.
      
     Members of the public may visit its official website (www.tia.org.hk) for more information about the TIA.