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 Tour Escorts’. The servicing period will be effective from now to 31st October 2026.

Licensing Criteria

Those applying for a tour escort 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 tour escort 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 enquiry@tia.org.hk or call (852) 3698 5900.

Please refer to the Travel Industry Authority's (TIA) website for the application requirements and related details of  Tour Escort 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.  Notes for Applicants

1. Applicant must have reached the age of 16 years.

2. Starting from November 2023, the new teaching materials for the Pre-examination Training Course for Tour Escorts have been published, and the related content for the licensing examination has been updated. Candidates who participated in the licensing examination between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023 and have not obtained a passing rate by August 31, 2023 can contact the Travel Industry Authority (email: exam@tia.org.hk) to obtain information on the arrangement of the latest version of the teaching materials (Chinese version available only).

3. If the candidate passed the examination, the candidate can apply for a tour escort licence from the Travel Industry Authority within a two-year period (limited period) from the date of the 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 (Travel Agent or Tour Guides 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 Guides 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)

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 30-50 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 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 days before the examination date by email. Any postponement of examination is subject to an administration fee of HK$300. The new examination will be arranged within two months according to previous examination.
3. Candidates who cannot sit the examination because of personal health or disease prevention reasons must inform the TIC on or before the examination date by phone or e-mail. Any postponement of examination is subject to an administration fee. The new examination will be arranged within three months according to previous examination.
4. Request for examination postponement due to any personal reasons will not be accepted.
5. Candidates who arrive 15 minutes after the examination has begun will be regarded as giving up the examination, and will NOT be permitted to enter the examination venue.

V. Examination paper

In Chinese (Offer examination in Chinese only)

If you want to apply English examination paper, please email to the TIC Training Department training@tichk.org and stated in the subject “Application for English Licensing Examination paper of Tour Escorts" for further arrangement.

VI. Examination certificate

Candidate has successfully passed the Licensing Examination of Tour Escorts will be issued a (Licensing Examination of Tour Escorts specified by Travel Industry Authority) certificate.

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.