Travel agents plead for more public relief funds

Travel agents have warned many local businesses in the sector are teetering on the brink of collapse and need immediate financial assistance from the government, RTHK reports. 

The Travel Industry Council chairman, Jason Wong, said though the government had given subsidies to travel agencies to prevent job losses and sustain the sector, they will still need more help as tourism activities are unlikely to rebound this year.

“The situation is very critical. Sooner or later agents will also consider whether to stay in the industry or not. The situation is getting more and more worse in the coming months and the relief measures are needed immediately,'' said Wong.

He said many employees who used to work in tourism and travel-related jobs have left.

When the pandemic situation eased during May-June, some agents had promoted local tourism but the resurgence of virus patients in July has put paid to that, he said.

The council head said he does not expect the sector to bounce back by the first quarter, or even the second quarter of next year.

Wong said the situation may be eased if the authorities set up travel bubbles – where travel restrictions are eased within designated areas – and adopt a 'health code' system to allow travelers who test negative to move freely.

But until a vaccine is found, international travel returning to normalcy is difficult, he told RTHK’s Candice Wong.

Many businesses hit hard by the pandemic restrictions have urged the government to roll out a third round of relief under its HK$30 billion Anti-Epidemic fund.

But Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po had warned last month that "endless government assistance and relief cannot be a long-term option".