Tourism Industry Additional Support Scheme

The Government has launched the Tourism Industry Additional Support Scheme (the Scheme). In respect of travel agents and their staff members, the Scheme aims to -

1. provide each eligible licensed travel agent with a one-off cash subsidy based on the number of staff members they have on 31 October 2020:
   
   
   1. for travel agents with 10 staff members or less: a flat rate of $100,000 each;
      
      
   2. for travel agents with 11 staff members or more: the subsidy level will be directly proportional to the number of staff members they have, using a subsidy level of $10,000 per staff member as the basis of calculation; and
      
      For travel agents which have successfully applied for subsidy under the Travel Agents and Practitioners Support Scheme of the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (“AEF 2.0”) or the Tourism Industry Support Scheme under the third round of AEF (“AEF 3.0”), the headcount to be used for calculating the cash subsidy under the Scheme will be the number approved under the Scheme, and in any case not more than that already approved under AEF 2.0/AEF 3.0.
      
      For travel agents which have NOT applied for subsidy under the Travel Agents and Practitioners Support Scheme of AEF 2.0 or the Tourism Industry Support Scheme of AEF 3.0, the headcount to be used for calculating the cash subsidy under the Scheme will be the number approved under the Scheme, and in any case not more than the number of staff members on 31 March 2020, to be vetted by the approving authority.
2. provide each eligible travel agent’s staff a one-off subsidy of $15,000.

Eligibility

1. “Eligible travel agent”: a travel agent holding a valid travel agent licence (issued under the Travel Agents Ordinance (Cap. 218)) on 14 February 2020 (the day on which the Government announced the establishment of the Travel Agents Subsidy Scheme under AEF) and when the subsidy under the Scheme is disbursed.
2. “Eligible travel agents' staff”: staff employed by an “eligible travel agent” on 31 March 2020.

Disbursement of Subsidy

For eligible travel agent which have successfully applied for subsidy under the Travel Agents and Practitioners Support Scheme of AEF 2.0 or the Tourism Industry Support Scheme of AEF 3.0, they will be required to submit an application with documentary proof to the Travel Agents Registry on or before 28 December 2020. Application details are as follows:

• Guide to Application A
• Application Form A1

For eligible travel agents and their eligible travel agents’ staff who have NOT applied for subsidy under the Travel Agents and Practitioners Support Scheme of AEF 2.0 or the Tourism Industry Support Scheme of AEF 3.0, they will be required to submit an application with documentary proof to the Travel Agents Registry on or before 28 December 2020. Application details are as follows:

• Guide to Application A
• Application Form A2

For travel agents’ staff who have received subsidy under the Tourism Industry Support Scheme of AEF 3.0 and are eligible under the Scheme, no application is required. The Government will send SMS notifications to them about subsidy disbursement arrangement. They are required to contact the Travel Agents Registry if there is any updating to their bank account information for receiving relevant subsidy on or before 16 December 2020.

• Application for Change of Bank Account Information (for Travel Agents’ Staff and Freelance Accredited Tourist Guides and Tour Escorts)

Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact the Travel Agents Registry: