How can Hong Kong tour guides be safer after death of group leader in Shanghai?

The death of a Hong Kong tour guide in a bus crash as he was escorting more than a dozen travellers to an airport in Shanghai on Friday has shocked residents back home.

As Hongkongers’ demand for travel continues to soar after the lifting of pandemic-era border restrictions, the safety of tour guides has come under the spotlight.

Here, the Post explains the job’s requirements, as well as what potential hazards tourism professionals face and how those risks can be mitigated.

1. What are the job requirements?

All tour guides must hold a licence issued by Hong Kong’s Travel Industry Authority to accompany outbound tour groups.

To obtain the licence, guides must complete a training course regulated by the authority, pass a written exam, and complete a crisis scenario role-play assessment.

Guides must also have a valid first aid certificate and pass a criminal record check.

According to the authority, the training course covers areas such as the responsibilities of the role, relevant laws and regulations such as anti-bribery legislation, customers’ rights and protections, potential risks involving tourist activities and crisis management skills.