Travel Industry Council suggests simplifying tour guide license requirements to address shortage

Fanny Yeung Shuk-fan, the executive director of the Travel Industry Council, has proposed the relaxation of requirements for tourist guide licenses as a means to encourage greater participation of young individuals in part-time roles and bolster the number of tour guides within the industry.

As the National Day Golden Week approaches, Yeung noted that around 1.2 million mainland visitors are expected in Hong Kong during the seven-day holiday, showing an annual increase in both independent and group travelers. 

However, the figure is only about 75 percent of the visitor levels seen in 2018.

Yeung emphasized that the recovery to pre-pandemic levels is not yet expected due to global economic challenges and changes in visitor motivations. 

She pointed out that the in-depth tourism initiatives introduced over the past few years are still in the early stages and that there is a shortage of qualified tour guides. 

She urged the government to simplify the licensing process and requirements.

Currently, non-university graduates must complete a six to eight-week training course and pass an exam to get a license. Yeung proposed that candidates should only need to pass the exam to make it easier for people to explore part-time tour guide jobs. 

She characterized the government's reaction as receptive and open-minded to the proposal.