Objective

The Travel Industry Authority (TIA) has appointed the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) as the examination body for the ‘Licensing Examination of Tourist Guides’. The servicing period will be effective from now to 31st October 2026.

Licensing Criteria

Those applying for a tourist guide licence must meet the following requirements:

1.   having reached the age of 18 years;

2.  having completed Hong Kong;s Form 5 education under the 5-year secondary academic structure of Senior Secondary 3 education under the New Senior Secondary academic structure (or equivalent education whether obtain in or outside Hong Kong);

3.  having passed, within the two years prior to making the application, the licensing examination specified by Travel Industry Authority (TIA);

4.  having completed the pre-examination training course specified by TIA;

5.  holding a valid certificate of competency in first aid, or another similar certificate, issued by an institution specified by TIA; and

6.  meeting other requirements set out in the Travel Industry Ordinance.

Applicants for tourist guide licence must provide the original document, for inspection by TIA, for the relevant educational attainment, completion of training course and first aid qualification.  When submitting a licence application, please note that the examination result and first aid qualification are subject to limited validity.  An expired result or qualification will not be accepted as meeting the relevant requirements.

If you have question regarding the above requirements, including whether you have fulfilled the educational requirement, please email to enquiry@tia.org.hk or call (852) 3698 5900.

Remarks: Please refer to the Travel Industry Authoriy's (TIA) website for the application requirements and related details of Tourist Guide Licences.

*Special measures to assist former pass holders or licensees to obtain tourist guide licence and tour escort licence. 
Enquiry may be made to the hotline at (852) 3698 5900 or enquiry@tia.org.hk.

Important Notes

I. Entry Requirements

1. Applicant must have reached age 16.
2. Candidates who sit for make-up road examination (Passed examination paper valids for two years from the date of the examination)eeting the education requirement.
3. If the candidate passed the licensing examination of tourist guides, the candidate can apply for a tourist guide license from the Travel Industry Authority within a two-year period (limited period) from the date of the last examination. The examination result will be invalid after the two-year period, and the candidate may retake the examination.

II. Fundings Scheme

Development Fund for the Travel Industry (for Eligible Travel Agents or Tour Escorts application)

All member travel agents of the TIC which hold a valid travel agent’s licence under the Travel Industry Ordinance are eligible to apply for subsidy, and may nominate their own staff members (including their employees and self-employed persons) to take part in eligible training activities in order to receive subsidy.

Tour Escorts holding a valid licence  issued by the Travel Industry Authority may also take part in eligible training activities in order to receive subsidy.

Successful applicant will be subsidised with a maximum of 70% of the fee of a training activity if its application is successful provided that the fee of the training activity per person is not less than HK$500. The subsidy ceiling for each travel agent is HK$30,000 per year. The year of subsidy is to commence from 1 January of each year until 31 December of the same year.

Please click here for details.

Training Subsidy Scheme for Practitioners of the Travel Trade (for Individual application)

TIA has launched a training subsidy scheme for practitioners of the travel industry with a view to enhancing the professional standards and service quality of the industry. Under the scheme, each eligible person may be granted, on a reimbursement basis, a subsidy of up to $2,000 for the following: registration fees for licensing examination of tourist guides and tour escorts, course fees for activities under the continuing professional development (CPD) schemes, and course fees for obtaining a certificate of competency in first-aid or another similar certificate.

Please click here for details

III. Examination Arrangements

1. A minimum of 15 applicants and a maximum of 25 applicants are required for each examination. When the number of candidates for each exam is less than the minimum number of candidates for the exam, the staff of the TIC Industry Training Department will notify the candidates by email that the exam date will be cancelled and a new exam schedule will be provided. The exam will be arranged depends on the actual situation.
2. The whole assessment of Road Examination will be video-taped for re-assessment if necessary.
3. The tentative exam timetable will be changed in light of the real time public health situation and the relevant anti-epidemic measures.

IV. Arrangement for Absence Of  Examination

1. Absence will be regarded as giving up the examination, and are required to submit a new application and fees for a re-sit.
2. Candidates who cannot sit the examination must inform the TIC seven working day before the examination date by phone or e-mail. Any postponement of examination will be required an administration fee. The new examination will be arranged within three months according to previous examination.
3. Candidates who cannot sit the examination for urgent public health considerations must inform the TIC one working day before the examination date by phone or e-mail. Any postponement of examination will be required an administration fee. The new examination will be arranged within three months according to previous examination.
4. Request for examination postponement will not be accepted for other personal reasons.
5. Candidates arriving after the coach bus has departed will be disqualified.
6. Any candidate leaves the coach bus during the examination, will be treated as giving up the examination.

V. Examination Language

Cantonese / Putonghua 

English assessment will be arranged individually. Please email to the TIC Training Department ( training@tichk.org )and state in the subject “Application for English Licensing Examination of Tour Guides" for further  arrangement.

VI. Examination Certificate

Examination Certificate(in electronic format) will be issued for candidates who pass both of the the Paper I Written Examination and Paper II Road Examination of the Licensing Examination of Tourist Guides specified by Travel Industry Authority.

VII. Result Review

Candidates have doubts about the examination results may request for a review.

Please contact Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong for details.

VIII. Appeal System

The appeal system has been in place since 2007. Candidates who are dissatisfied with their examination results may request for an appeal.

Please contact Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong for details.