The Government today announced that more support will be provided for the travel industry by enhancing the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme and extending the subsidy initiative for tourist guides.

The Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme was introduced last December, under which each travel agent can obtain a cash incentive of $100 for each Hong Kong resident for whom it arranges an eligible green lifestyle local tour.

However, it could not achieve the desired effect of supporting the trade which has been affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

As the epidemic has been subsiding, the Government has decided to increase the commitment for this scheme from the original $50 million to $100 million, and will discuss with the trade details of further enhancing the scheme.

Meanwhile, the Government has been subsidising tourist guides with a maximum of $1,000 each in completing the Continuing Professional Development Scheme for renewing Tourist Guide Passes until October 27.

In view of the suspension of training courses caused by the epidemic early this year, the Government decided to extend the subsidy initiative for six months until April 27, 2021, which will benefit more than 5,000 tourist guides.