Rewards for tipoffs 'can help cut out forced shopping'

A tourism industry representative has proposed the implementation of a reward system to incentivize tour guides to report instances of forced shopping. This idea emerged following the revocation of licenses for two travel agencies and a tour guide by the Travel Industry Authority. The authorities took action due to the coercion of mainland tourists into making purchases, marking the second enforcement of this kind in a single month.

Speaking to RTHK, Sara Leung, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Tourism Industry Employees General Union, highlighted that the Travel Industry Authority is struggling with insufficient manpower for inspections and law enforcement. Leung suggested that a reward system could encourage more individuals to come forward and report such malpractices. She believes that when people in the trade witness these incidents, they would be more inclined to report them if they receive a reward, thus alleviating the manpower issue.

Leung further explained that low-cost package tours are commonly used to attract customers in a highly competitive sector. Tour agents often resort to coercive shopping methods to ensure profitability. However, she noted that such reports of forced shopping significantly harm the industry's reputation, leading to reluctance among visitors to participate in package tours.