It was learned from several major travel agencies in Guangzhou that, on May 10th that an agreement pushed forward by the Supplementary Agreement VI of the CEPA (Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement), that Guangzhou's tourism marketing efforts will launch a series of new routes for the Hong Kong-Taiwan tourism sector. Soon, a large number of Hong Kong tour guides will be able to serve Guangzhou tourist groups providing the GZ market an important boost.

Article Two of the Supplementary Agreement VI of the CEPA tourism agreement stipulates that Mainland travel agencies that are designated to as operators of Taiwan tours can organize tourists with valid Entry Permits for Mainland Residents travelling to Taiwan and with travel visas (L), to stay in Hong Kong for transit in order to facilitate the mainland/Hong Kong tourism industry so as to offer "one-tour-more stops" packages as primary tour products.

According to Chen Zhichao, the Vice GM of the Nanhu International Travel Agency, many Taiwan-bound tour groups currently take off from Hong Kong. Therefore, the first Hong Kong-Taiwan Tours from Guangzhou may take the form of a "Taiwan Group Tour + Hong Kong DIY Tour". Guangzhou citizens may have more options.

New provisions related to the Supplementary Agreement VI for the CEPA agreement also includes terms that allows Chinese citizens, registered as Hong Kong permanent residents, to have Mainland outbound tour guide certificates. They can be employed by Mainland international travel agencies with outbound operations rights,and Hong Kong and Macau travel agencies with the permit to operate from Hong Kong and Macau-bound group tours. The insiders belonging to the Guangzhou travel industry welcome the move. "In the future, there will be more and more Hong Kong based tour guides".

Editor: Yan