Parents sending their children on summer study tours should check out and be clear about the service providers operating the tours.
A recent Consumer Council survey has shown that such study tours are not necessarily operated by licensed travel agents.
Of the 12 service providers surveyed, nine professed to be holders of a valid Travel Agents Licence issued under the Travel Agents Ordinance.
Three others, by their own admission, had either their study tours organized jointly with licensed travel agents, or they are of a solely educational body and not in the travel agent business.
Study tours are different from ordinary package holiday tours requiring experienced personnel to provide the special attention to the young travellers under their care.
For study tours offered by a commercial entity, parents should enquire if the service provider holds a valid Travel Agents Licence, or if the tour is organized jointly with licensed travel agent.
For such tours, parents should ensure that the payment receipt indicates a levy charge equal to 0.3% of the tour price so that in the event of default, they are entitled to the protection of the Travel Industry Compensation Fund (of up to 90% payment).
In addition, tour participants will also be eligible for protection under the Package Tour Accident Contingency Fund in the case of accidents (financial relief up to $180,000).
Parents should also consider if there is a need to take out travel insurance to get enhanced protection for their children.
The Travel Industry Council (TIC) has recently issued to its members a Code of Practice on operating study tours with new guidelines to take effect at the beginning of this month.
The new code requires that, amongst other things, should a travel agent wish to make any changes to the accommodation or other arrangements after the tour has departed, they must immediately notify the TIC and tour representatives and, furthermore, compensate to parents 15% of the tour price.
Another area of importance is the ratio of tour escort to tour participants. Most service providers claimed they would assign at least one tour escort who is the holder of a valid Tour Escort Pass issued by TIC to each study tour. The ratio would vary with the age of the participants, and generally one tour escort to look after 8 to 20 participants.
For those opting to join study tours that are organized by non licensed travel agents, parents should check out the organizers to ascertain if they possess both the experience and ability to conduct such tours.
Further, they should find out that in the absence of protection measures (available under the travel industry compensation and contingency funds), whether travel insurance policies with sufficient protection coverage have been duly arranged for tour participants. If the tour price includes travel insurance, ask to see the detailed protection plans and policies. If not, arrange to purchase travel insurance with adequate protection.
In general, parents are advised to ask questions with regard to the host families, if any, the health facilities and support should their child fall ill, and any activities with potential hazards, e.g. horse riding, rafting, scuba diving, or even swimming and advise their children about their capabilities in joining such activities.
According to the survey, the most popular destinations for study tours this summer were the UK (98 tours) and the Mainland China (87 tours). For the UK tours, the price ranged from $20,950 (16 days) to $43,398 (22 days); whereas for the Mainland tours, the fee ranged from $930 (2 days) to $13,990 (14 days). The most expensive tour offered was a study tour to Canada for 31 days costing $49,998.
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