Tour agency 3A Holidays slapped with suspension from regulator
3A Holidays' membership in Travel Industry Council suffers after proprietor snubs orders three times to answer questions face to face
A tour agency that made mainland visitors sleep overnight on a coach during the Lunar New Year holiday had its membership in the industry regulator suspended yesterday, after its proprietor repeatedly defied summonses to clarify the dispute.
The Travel Industry Council took a tougher line on 3A Holidays after proprietor Wong Wing-kin missed his last chance to answer questions in person.
The council had sent for Wong three times in a little over a week. He had responded by sending two letters that the council said lacked crucial details.
Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of the council, said: "Wong's daughter told me on the phone that her father was unwell and could not stand the pressure of appearing in public.
Wong's daughter told me on the phone that her father was unwell and could not stand the pressure of appearing in public
"A lawyer was appointed to represent the company, but he was overseas and could not attend the meeting [yesterday]."
It is the first time the council - a self-regulatory body of the tourism sector that oversees the performance of agencies and tour guides - has suspended an agency's membership over failure to co-operate in an investigation. Membership is a necessary condition for running a tour agency.