Licence of Hong Kong journey company revoked after tour information coerced guests to buy

The licence of a Hong Kong journey company has been revoked after one in every of its tour guides allegedly coerced mainland Chinese guests into shopping for objects, in what one trade consultant referred to as an “isolated incident” that didn’t sign a return of the notorious observe.

The Travel Industry Authority stated on Monday it had earlier launched an investigation into Star Link Travel over 4 circumstances by which one in every of its guides, Kuk Wa, was suspected of coercing inbound mainland travellers to buy.

The investigation discovered that between January and March, Star Link Travel didn’t take “all reasonable steps” to make sure that tour group members weren’t coerced into making purchases.

It additionally discovered the information had made what it described as “inappropriate remarks” to guests in March and threatened that those that didn’t make purchases must pay the distinction within the tour value.

“After considering the investigation results, the Travel Industry Authority believes that the inaction of the travel agency and the tour guide’s remarks effectively coerced tourists into shopping, constituting a serious breach of licensing conditions,” it stated.

“The travel agency and tour guide involved have severely damaged the reputation of the Hong Kong tourism industry.”