Hundreds of holidaymakers left in lurch ahead of Lunar New Year as Hong Kong agency An Shun Travel folds without warning
- Company, operating as Amazing China, Jinks Holiday and Amazing World, cancelled 18 tour groups to mainland China
- Industry body says 570 travellers in total affected by agency’s closure
An Shun Travel, operating as Amazing China, Jinks Holiday and Amazing World, notified the Travel Industry Council that it would cease operations immediately and cancelled 18 tour groups to the mainland.
Of the tours, 13 were supposed to leave over the Lunar New Year holiday from Tuesday to Friday, and involved 430 travellers.
The council said 570 travellers in total had been affected by the agency’s closure and that fees of more than HK$900,000 (US$115,384) were involved.
“The council terminated An Shun Travel’s membership on Monday afternoon,” it said in a press release, adding that 30 people left on a tour to Guilin on Sunday but their trip would not be affected.
Council executive director Alice Chan Cheung Lok-yee criticised the agency as it had only started notifying travellers on Sunday.
“It is hard for people to find replacements, as it is the peak season and the notification came late,” Chan said.
She also said most of those affected would be able to claim 90 per cent of what they paid the agency from the Travel Industry Compensation Fund.
Concerned travellers may call the fund’s office from Friday to learn about making claims, she added.
As of Monday afternoon, the council said it has received five requests for assistance from 20 travellers.
On Monday, the website for Amazing China and Amazing World was no longer available.
The agency’s offices could not be reached for comment.
Tourism sector lawmaker Yiu Si-wing said 1,700 small to medium-sized travel agencies faced difficulties operating in Hong Kong.
“There is big competition, and the cost of advertising is high,” he said.
Yiu said he hoped other agencies would be able to make arrangements for the affected travellers who wished to book a different tour over the holiday.
An Shun Travel was established in 2012. It had five branches in Hong Kong.
