More Relief For Tourism Sector Battered By Covid

The government has earmarked HK$433.5 million in the latest round of relief for the hard-hit tourism industry.

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau announced on Wednesday the seventh round of support for the trade under its government's Anti-Epidemic Fund.

Travel agencies will each receive a one-off subsidy of at least HK$50,000, depending on their size, while each staff member will get HK$7,500.

Freelance tour guides and escorts will get a one-off subsidy of HK$7,500, while coach drivers are entitled to $5,000.

There's also relief for hotels. Those with up to 100 rooms will receive HK$300,000 while bigger hotels are to be granted HK$400,000. The funding does not apply to quarantine hotels.

"I think it is critical for the trade to receive such financial support from the government to help the trade to survive in this period of time," the honorary adviser of the Travel Industry Council, Jason Wong, said.

"There should be no business – from local tours to inbound travel – in the forthcoming few months.

"It is very important for the SAR government to control and contain the pandemic first."

The government says it expects 1,670 agencies, 19,100 agency staff members and freelance tour guides and escorts, 3,400 drivers and 330 hotels to benefit from the latest round of relief.

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