The Government announced today (November 7) that under the principle of striking a balance between epidemic risks and the need for economic development, and considering that the inbound tour group travellers concerned would be received and assisted to carry out tourist activities in compliance with the anti-epidemic measures by travel agents and accompanied by licensed tourist guides, specific arrangements for inbound tour group travellers will be launched this month. The relevant arrangements can support the gradual resumption of the inbound travel market in an orderly manner, and provide a more favourable business environment for the travel trade.
 
     The specific arrangements will allow inbound tour group travellers who are received by licensed travel agents and have pre-registered their itineraries to:
 
(1) enter designated tourist attractions including theme parks, museums and temples when holding an Amber Code of the Vaccine Pass; and
(2) enter and dine in the partitioned areas in designated catering premises that meet special anti-epidemic requirements when holding an Amber Code of the Vaccine Pass. 

     The Government will explore at the same time whether it is permissible to allow inbound tour group travellers with short-term stays in Hong Kong to undergo fewer nucleic acid tests upon their arrival in Hong Kong and daily rapid antigen tests during the itinerary, while balancing the epidemic risks.
 
     For inbound tour groups to receive the above-mentioned specific arrangements, relevant licensed travel agents are required to pre-register the itineraries of those inbound tour groups with the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), and to undertake strict compliance with applicable anti-epidemic measures, such as requiring inbound group tour travellers to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app and comply with requirements under the Vaccine Pass, as well as the staff members to wear a mask at all times when receiving the inbound tour group travellers.
 
     The Government will discuss with the TIC on the implementation details and conditions of the above-mentioned measures, including the coverage of designated tourist attractions, the special anti-epidemic measures required for the designated catering premises, and the anti-epidemic measures to be observed by staff members who receive the travellers. Relevant information will be uploaded to the website of the TIC (www.tichk.org) in due course.
 

Ends/Monday, November 7, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:38

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