Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)

Travel Agency and Tour Operators

Relevant Mainland Rules and Regulations

Rules and regulations promulgated by the Mainland authorities relating to the implementation of commitments under CEPA :

The Tourism Law of the People's Republic of China (2018 revision) (Oct 2018) (in Chinese only)
Measures for Tourism Administrative Licensing (Order of the China National Tourism Administration No.46 - Mar 2018) (in Chinese only)

Establishment of Travel Agency

According to the "Regulations on Travel Agencies" (2020 Revision) (Nov 2020) (in Chinese only), when applying for the operation of domestic tourism business and inbound tourism business, one shall have obtained the qualification of an enterprise legal person, and have registered capital of not less than RMB 300,000. According to the "Implementation Details of Regulations on Travel Agencies" (Decree of the National Tourism Administration) (2016 revision) (Dec 2016) (in Chinese only), the business premises of travel agencies should be able to meet the following requirements:
1. The applicant shall have the property rights of the business premises, or have been leased the business premises for not less than one year;
2. The business premises shall be able to satisfy the applicant's needs for business operation.
For details, please refer to:

Operation of Group Tours for Mainland Residents to Hong Kong and Macao

According to the "Regulations on Travel Agencies" (2020 Revision) (Nov 2020) (in Chinese only), travel agencies applying to operate outbound travel business shall have obtained the operation licence for at least 2 years, and shall not have been imposed a fine or more severe penalties by administrative authorities for infringing the legitimate rights and interests of tourists. According to the "Notice on Implementing the Tourism Measures under Supplement IX to CEPA" (Circular of the China National Tourism Administration Office No. 566 - Dec 2012) (in Chinese only), Hong Kong travel agencies established on a wholly-owned or joint venture basis in the Mainland may apply for the operation of group tours to Hong Kong and Macao for residents registered with permanent residence in the province, autonomous region or municipality where the travel agency locates.
For details, please refer to:

Operation of Outbound Group Tours to Destinations Other Than Taiwan

The Mainland allows 5 qualified Hong Kong travel agencies to operate outbound group tours to destinations beyond Hong Kong and Macao (excluding Taiwan) on a wholly-owned basis for residents of the Mainland on a pilot basis. Besides, there are no more restrictions on the numbers of Mainland-Hong Kong joint venture travel agencies operating outbound group tours to destinations beyond Hong Kong and Macao (excluding Taiwan) for residents of the Mainland.
When Mainland-Hong Kong joint venture travel agencies and Hong Kong wholly-owned travel agencies apply for the operation of outbound group tours to destinations beyond Hong Kong and Macao (excluding Taiwan) for residents of the Mainland, they shall be able to satisfy the requirements stipulated in the "Regulations on Travel Agencies" (2020 Revision) (Nov 2020) (in Chinese only), such as having obtained the operation licence for at least 2 years, and not having committed a serious violation of regulations in the period of operation.
When operating outbound group tours for residents of the Mainland, one shall abide by the "Regulations on Travel Agencies" (2020 Revision) (Nov 2020) (in Chinese only) and the "Measures for the Administration of Overseas Tours of Chinese Citizens" (2017 revision) (Mar 2017) (in Chinese only). They should also be able to satisfy the regulations applicable to the Mainland travel agencies. For instance, the destination of the outbound group tours shall be a country or a region that the Mainland has formally started group tour organizing business with; the "Name List of Chinese Citizens in Outbound Group Tours" shall also be submitted to the relevant departments. A full-time tour escort shall be arranged to lead the outbound group tours, and the host organization in the destination country shall be a legally-established travel agency with good reputation (in other words, a travel agency on the "List of Host Organizations for Chinese Group Tours").
For details, please refer to:

Tourist Guides in the Mainland

According to the "Notice on Application to take the Mainland Qualification Examination for Tourist Guide by the Permanent Residents of Hong Kong and Macao with Chinese citizenship" (Circular of the National Tourism Administration No. 174 - Nov 2008) (in Chinese only), Hong Kong permanent residents applying to sit the Mainland's Qualification Examination for Tourist Guides shall be a Chinese citizen and be able to satisfy the requirements stipulated in the "Regulation on Administration of Tourist Guides" (2017 revision) (Oct 2017) (in Chinese only), including:
1. Having the academic qualification of high school, vocational training school or above;
2. Being physically healthy;
3. Having the basic knowledge and language skills for exercising the duties of a tourist guide.
For details, please refer to:

Enquiries concerning the application procedures and requirements for the establishment of foreign-invested travel agency and tour operators enterprises can be directed to :

Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China
(Website : http://www.mct.gov.cn/)