The Travel Industry Authority will take over licensing and regulatory functions of the travel industry starting tomorrow, the Culture Sports & Tourism Bureau announced today.

It explained that the new regulatory regime of the travel industry will be implemented in full on September 1 and the authority will take over the functions of the Travel Agents Registry in respect of issuing licences to travel agents, and the functions of the Travel Industry Council in respect of issuing passes to tourist guides and tour escorts as well as regulating the industry.

The authority will also be responsible for managing the Travel Industry Compensation Fund and collecting levies from travel agents.

In addition to disbanding the registry, the council will cease its works in relation to issuing passes and regulations on the same day.

Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung said the implementation of the new regulatory regime is an important step for enhancing the professionalism of the trade and promoting the long-term healthy development of the city’s travel industry.

Mr Yeung emphasised that the Government will work closely with the authority and the trade to ensure the new regulatory regime will be implemented in an orderly manner. He also thanked the council for its efforts in regulating the trade over the years.

The authority is a statutory regulatory body of the travel industry established under the Travel Industry Ordinance. It is mainly responsible for the licensing and regulation of travel agents, tourist guides and tour escorts.