bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Danny Mok

A Hong Kong travel agency has folded after more than 20 years and the city’s industry watchdog said on Sunday the company was arranging refunds for customers.
New Star Travel posted a notice at its office that said it shut down last Friday because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and impostor scams.
The company notice apologised to customers affected by the closure and listed a number for regulator the Travel Industry Authority.
The authority said it had already fielded about 140 inquiries and requests for help involving a total of HK$360,000 (US$46,023) by Saturday connected to the agency.
Hong Kong travel agents seek police help after surge in fake social media ads
It added it was aware that New Star Travel, based in Tsim Sha Tsui, was making arrangements and would process compensation applications from clients in line with the rules of the Travel Industry Compensation Fund.
The authority said the company, founded in 2001, had provided written notice to it on February 9 that outlined its intention to stop trading on February 23, which was in line with legal requirements.
The authority added that travel firms were required to meet the obligations and legal responsibilities outlined in the Travel Industry Ordinance, even after licences were revoked or suspended.
The watchdog said earlier that if customers had receipts with levy stamps from the Travel Industry Compensation Fund, they were entitled to an ex gratia payment of up to 90 per cent of the outbound fare paid in the event of a company bankruptcy.
Scammers steal real social media followers to make fake Hong Kong business page
The authority said on Sunday it had not had any complaints, inquiries or compensation applications related to bookings with the firm after it received notification of its closure.
It added it had started the established procedures for handling the cessation of business operations by a travel agency, including revoking its licence.
The Consumer Council added that it had not received any complaints about the business closure.
The travel watchdog said the city had 1,606 travel agents at the end of January and 5,393 tour guides.


Hong Kong property firm Gale Well trying to sell US$386 million in assets amid slump

Hong Kong’s demand for AI talent surges, with more than 2,000 job openings

Polls predict pay rises for Hong Kong professionals, with some hitting 5%

Deliveroo’s exit offers lesson on competition in Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong travel agency shuts, blames Covid-19 impact and impostor scams as industry watchdog says it has had about 140 calls linked to the closure

Tsim Sha Tsui-based travel agency New Star Travel had closed, blaming impact of the coronavirus and impostor scams. Photo: SCMP

More than 230 Hongkongers scammed through online shopping, travel or hotel deals in single week in August, police reveal

Police have warned users to purchase only on official channels online or make transactions in person. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong police have a Scameter app to allow users to identify suspicious websites and sellers. Photo: SCMP

Hong Kong travel agents seek police help after surge in scammers using bogus social media accounts to cheat customers looking for cheap deals

Fake Facebook accounts have been offering cheap deals in a bid to lure unwitting victims. Photo: AP

A fake social media page mimicking EGL Tours has 100,000 followers. Photo: Handout

Lattes to take on scammers? Hong Kong police chief suggests anti-fraud slogans on coffee cups, restaurant napkins to raise awareness after surge in cases

Seventy per cent of fraud cases last year involved online scams, according to Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu. Photo: Shutterstock

Raymond Siu attends a media literacy seminar on scam prevention. The police commissioner has warned residents to be wary of investment schemes promising high returns and low risks. Photo: Edmond So

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Travel Industry Authority says calls about collapsed New Star Travel involve a total of HK$360,000
Watchdog says company is making arrangements to process refund applications from clients in line with regulations


Travel Industry Authority says calls about collapsed New Star Travel involve a total of HK$360,000.


Coronavirus pandemic

Tourism

Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Hong Kong travel agency shuts, blames Covid-19 impact and impostor scams as industry watchdog says it has had about 140 calls linked to the closure

Travel Industry Authority says calls about collapsed New Star Travel involve a total of HK$360,000 Watchdog says company is making arrangements to process refund applications from clients in line with regulations

Travel Industry Authority says calls about collapsed New Star Travel involve a total of HK$360,000

Watchdog says company is making arrangements to process refund applications from clients in line with regulations