Support for SMEs

To enhance the professional standards and service quality of the travel industry.

Travel Industry Authority (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 HKD2,000 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.

Licensed tourist guide or tour escort.

Applicants for subsidy must make an application using an online form and upload the following documents (in jpg or pdf file format) for verification:

• Document(s) showing completion of the subsidised item (e.g. notice on result of examination or certificate of completion of an activity);
• Payment receipt; and
• Document(s) issued by the organiser of the activity showing the relevant information (if the activity is one under the category of "Self-selected Activities" and not yet recognised by TIA).

Alternatively, applications may also be made via paper application (request may be made to cpd@tia.org.hk). All applications for subsidy must be made within three months after a subsidised item has been completed or by 30 September 2025 (whichever is earlier). Within 3 working days after receiving an application, TIA will issue an acknowledgement e-mail. It normally takes four weeks to process an application if the applicant meets all the requirements and has submitted all the required information and documents. TIA will notify the applicants by e-mail of the result of the application and the date for the release of the subsidy cheque (if applicable). Depending on the choice of collection indicated in the application form, the subsidy cheque will either be posted to the correspondence address of the applicant or be collected at TIA office.