Travel Industry Authority steps up holiday oversight

The statutory body that regulates the city's travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts said on Thursday it had made comprehensive preparations for the expected visitor surge during the upcoming Ching Ming holiday in the mainland. The three-day holiday begins on Saturday. The Travel Industry Authority said it would enhance supervision for incoming travel groups from the mainland to ensure smooth and orderly operations of their visits. Alongside customs officers, the authority inspected various stores under the Administrative Scheme for Registered Shops for Inbound Tour Groups in Tsim Sha Tsui, To Kwa Wan and Kowloon Bay on Monday. Inspection and enforcement will be further enhanced during the Ching Ming holiday to crack down on violations, the authority added. It will also deploy more personnel to inspect locations with higher volumes of inbound tour groups, such as border checkpoints, popular tourist hotspots and eateries that serve tour groups. Meanwhile, the government held a interdepartmental meeting on Thursday to co-ordinate preparations for the Labour Day Golden Week holiday next month. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, who chaired the meeting, also called on government departments and the travel trade to make necessary preparations to receive visitors during the Ching Ming holiday. Edited by Edmond Fong