The tourism industry expects a boost in arrivals from the mainland and less cutthroat competition as a result of Hong Kong travel agents being allowed to set up wholly owned Guangdong operations for tours to the city and Macau.
The measures, under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, also let Hong Kong travel agencies sell air tickets. It is the first time outbound mainland tourism has been opened to non-mainland firms.
Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai said the potential market for mainland travel to Hong Kong was huge.
'An average of 22,000 mainland couples tie the knot every day. If just 1 per cent of them go to Hong Kong and Macau for their wedding or honeymoon, marriages would be a daily event in these two cities.'
Hong Kong Tourism Board chairwoman Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee welcomed the concessions for travel agents.
'The rich experience of Hong Kong's travel agencies can help raise the service standard of their counterparts,' Mrs Chow said.