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.

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 (for eligible staff members of travel agents or tour guides application)

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 refer to the website of the TIC for details. (*Applicant must submit the application form before signing up for the training activity concerned.)

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. Once an examination has been registered, no changes or cancellations will be permitted.
2. Absence will be regarded as giving up the examination, and are required to submit a new application and fees for a re-sit.
3. Candidates who cannot sit the examination because of personal health or disease prevention reasons must inform the TIC before the examination starts by phone or e-mail, and submit a medical certificate from the day of the exam along with an administration fee to reschedule the examination. Please contact Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong for details.
4. Candidates who arrive after 15 minutes of 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, before any enrollment, 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

Examination results will be released by e-mail within 6 weeks after the examination date. 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.

(Candidate shall submit an application form together with a review fee within 30 days after their examination results notification has been sent by the TIC. Result review application filed after above-mentioned 30-day period will not be considered.)

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. 

(Candidates shall submit an application form together with an appeal fee within 30 days after their examination results notification has been sent by the TIC. Appeal application filed after above-mentioned 30-day period will not be considered.)