Travel Sector Urges Govt To Extend Lifeline

More than 100 travel agencies and coach operators on Monday warned that the industry won't survive much longer without further support from the authorities.

In an open letter to Chief Executive Carrie Lam, they asked for an extension to a loan guarantee scheme which allows them to pay only the interest on their debt.

The scheme is due to end at the end of this month, but the companies said if it doesn't continue, the struggling industry will collapse immediately as companies won't be able to repay loans.

They also asked for grants of HK$30,000 for each coach a company owns, to be spent on insurance and parking.

The firms also called for Hong Kong to introduce a health code system like that on the mainland, saying this could allow for the resumption of cross-border travel.