The Government announced today that the Characteristic Local Tourism Incentive Scheme will accept applications from eligible travel agents from January 1, 2024, enabling them to receive cash incentives for promoting in-depth travel and thematic tours.

The scheme is divided into two parts: in-depth travel and thematic travel.

The application period of in-depth travel will be from January 1, 2024 until July 31, 2024. Each eligible travel agent may apply for $200 cash incentives for each participant of in-depth travel it serves.

The quota for applying for the cash incentives is 100 participants each from local and inbound tours.

The itinerary must cover at least two designated sites of in-depth travel and one interactive tourist experience activity with Hong Kong's unique and authentic experience recognised under the scheme.

As regards thematic travel, each eligible travel agent may apply for $400 cash incentives for each participant of thematic travel it serves, and the quota for applying for the cash incentives is 100 participants each from local and inbound tours.

Travel agents must focus on six distinctive themes, including national history, green ecology, marine, traditional culture, pop culture, and creative travel in designing the itinerary and provide visitors with a captivating and in-depth Hong Kong travel experience.

Application details will be announced in mid-January, along with the promulgation of the six winning thematic itineraries under the Deeper into Hong Kong: Creative Itinerary Design Competition.

To assist travel agents in organising more thematic tours, the Travel Industry Council - as the implementation agent of the scheme - will liaise with different organisations to organise in-depth local tour docent training courses for licensed tourist guides and tour escorts, so as to further enhance the service quality of the tourism industry practitioners.

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