Hong Kong Tour Guide's License Revoked for Threatening Mainland Tourists Reluctant to Shop

Hong Kong Tour Guide's License Revoked

A Hong Kong tour guide who threatened visitors to make them shop has faced severe repercussions. The Travel Industry Authority has revoked Lam Chun-fai's tourist guide license following complaints from a mainland Chinese tour group in February, accusing him of strong-arming them into shopping.

Details of the Incidents

During a tour on February 13, Lam openly berated tourists who were reluctant to spend and threatened that their trip could be affected if they did not purchase goods at designated shops. The authority stated, “Lam admitted his behavior had harmed the reputation of the Hong Kong tourism industry.”

After evaluating the inquiry findings, the authority deemed Lam “not suitable to continue to hold a tourist guide license.” This action is rooted in Section 111 of the Travel Industry Ordinance, which allows revocation of licenses that jeopardize the travel industry’s reputation.

Impact on Tourism Industry

The authority emphasized that this decision sends a clear message regarding unacceptable conduct affecting the city’s image. Hong Kong mandates that all tour guides obtain licenses, which, if violated, can result in fines or jail time.

With approximately 34 million tourists visiting Hong Kong last year, the conduct of guides plays a crucial role in maintaining the city's tourism image. Recent trends show that despite a revival in inbound tourism post-Covid-19, many mainland tourists are now more inclined to explore independently rather than through pressured group tours.