Tour guide, agencies' licences revoked for misconduct

The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) has revoked the operating licences of two travel agencies and one tour guide in Hong Kong for misconduct involving forced shopping, the authority announced on Monday. This follows a similar enforcement action just a month ago, marking the second such case in a month.

The tour guide, Sun Kwun-ying, was found to have made threatening remarks to group members from the mainland, coercing them to make purchases in February and April this year. The agencies involved, Go Go Ming Travel Services and Grandee Travel Company, allegedly failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent people from being coerced into shopping during the tours they organized.

The TIA emphasized that it does not tolerate forced shopping and behavior that damages the reputation of Hong Kong's tourism sector. It vowed to firmly crackdown on such malpractices. With the National Day Golden Week holiday approaching next month, the TIA announced it will intensify inspections alongside other law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of inbound visitors and maintain the sector's reputation.

Legislator Nixie Lam welcomed the decision, stating that the disciplinary actions serve as a warning to the industry to strictly adhere to regulatory requirements and prevent malpractice. She noted that it was the third enforcement action of this kind so far this year. While most in the sector are dedicated to serving travelers, Lam cautioned that a few "rotten apples" can negatively impact Hong Kong's image.

She suggested the TIA enhance professional training and education for frontline workers to improve the overall service quality of the industry.