Tour guide, agencies' licences revoked for misconduct
The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) on Monday said it had revoked the operating licences of two travel agencies and one tour guide over forced shopping — marking the second such similar enforcement action in a month. Upon investigation, the watchdog found that the tour guide, Sun Kwun-ying, allegedly made threatening remarks to group members from the mainland, compelling them to purchase goods in…
The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) announced on Monday the revocation of operating licences for two travel agencies and one tour guide due to allegations of forced shopping, reports indicate. The investigation revealed that Sun Kwun-ying, the tour guide, had made threatening remarks to mainland group members, coercing them to make purchases in February and April, according to the TIA.
The agencies implicated, Go Go Ming Travel Services and Grandee Travel Company, were found to have failed to prevent participants from being coerced into shopping, the watchdog stated. The TIA emphasized its zero tolerance for such conduct, which tarnishes Hong Kong's tourism sector, promising stringent crackdowns on similar malpractices.
As the National Day Golden Week approaches, the TIA vowed to intensify inspections with other law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of inbound visitors and preserve the sector's reputation. Legislator Nixie Lam commended the decision, highlighting the need for strict adherence to regulatory requirements in the sector. She noted that while most operators are committed to serving travellers, a few ill-intentioned individuals can harm Hong Kong's image, suggesting increased professional training for frontline staff to improve service quality.
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