Board Eyes Hygiene Certificates For Tourism Sector

The Tourism Board has announced it will spend about HK$10 million to sponsor tourism-related businesses to earn certification for their anti-epidemic measures.

Hotels, restaurants, malls, tour bus companies and others will be certified by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) if they fulfill a series of hygiene and infection control requirements under a "standardised hygiene protocol".

The association is non-profit organisation established by the Hong Kong Government.

According to a statement released by the board, around 1,800 businesses have so far expressed interest in the protocol.

Applications will be accepted in two phases, with shopping malls, hotels, attractions, inbound tour operators and restaurants, and retail outlets under the Quality Tourism Services (QTS) scheme being allowed to apply for the certification starting from Thursday.

The second phase of the scheme will be extended to include cross-boundary coach companies, tour coach companies, convention and exhibition venues, other retail and dining merchants and so on.

Businesses that are certified will be allowed to display a logo on their shopfront showing their commitment to "hygiene and anti epidemic protocol". The HKQAA will also carry out random inspections.

The board's chairman Pang Yiu-kai said the pandemic has brought "a new normal to the tourism landscape", with public health and safety becoming a priority for visitors.

Pang said the board will strengthen its promotion of anti-epidemic measures being taken by the tourism sector to "establish a healthy and safe tourism image for Hong Kong and to bolster visitors’ confidence in travelling to Hong Kong".

The scheme also has the backing of Hong Kong University microbiologist Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, who said that while the pandemic situation remains volatile, the measures would help reduce the risk of spreading the disease.