Notice on Issuing the Measures for the Recognition of Qualifications of Tour Agencies for Organizing and Operating Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (For Trial Implementation)

This English translation is for reference only. The Chinese version shall prevail in case of any inconsistencies.

Notice on Issuing the Measures for the Recognition of Qualifications of Tour Agencies for Organizing and Operating Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (For Trial Implementation)

All relevant departments,

The Measures for the Recognition of Qualifications of Tour Agencies for Organizing and Operating Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (For Trial Implementation) has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and are hereby issued. Please implement the measures in accordance with your actual situation.

Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

April 28, 2024

Normative Document No. 12/2024 of the Economic Development Bureau

Measures for the Recognition of Qualifications of Tour Agencies for Organizing and Operating Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (for Trial Implementation)

Article 1.

Purpose of the Measures

In order to specify the standards, procedures, supervision, and administration of determining the qualifications of tour agencies engaging in the business of organizing and operating Hengqin-Macao tourist groups, these Measures are hereby formulated in accordance with the Implementing Rules of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin for the Administration of Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups (For Trial Implementation) (hereinafter referred to as the “Implementing Rules”).

Article 2.

Recognition Authority

The Economic Development Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (hereinafter referred to as the “Economic Development Bureau”) is responsible for the qualification review, recognition, supervision, and administration of tour agencies that submit applications.

Article 3.

Recognition Requirements

Tour agencies applying for qualification recognition shall meet the following basic requirements:

1. Tour agencies applying for qualification recognition shall possess qualifications for operating outbound, inbound, and domestic tourism business, and have the capability and qualification to organize and operate tourist group services;

2. Tour agencies shall not be included in List of Enterprises with Abnormal Business Operation, List of Enterprises with Serious Unlawful and Dishonest Acts, List of Dishonest Judgment Debtors, List of Unreachable or Abnormally Operating Institutions, or any negative publicity information published on the “Credit China” website;

3. Tour agencies shall have sound mechanisms for tourism risk prevention and control and have contingency plans;

4. Tour agencies shall have a good reputation in the industry and good customer reviews.

Article 4.

Application Materials

Tour agencies submitting applications shall provide the following materials, affixed with the official seals:

1. “Application Form for Recognition of Qualifications of Tour Agencies for Organizing and Operating Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin” (see Attachment);

2. Copy of the valid Unified Social Credit Identifier certificate;

3. Copy of the business permit for tour agencies;

4. Copy of the identification documents of the legal representative (or the person in charge);

5. Records of lawful tax and social security contributions of the preceding year;

6. Commitment letter for social credit;

7. Tour agencies’ mechanisms for tourism risk prevention and control and contingency plans for operating Hengqin-Macao tourist groups;

8. Other supporting documents conducive to recognition.

Article 5.

Review

The Economic Development Bureau will complete the review within five working days upon receipt of the application materials.

For complete submissions, the application shall be accepted. For incomplete submissions, applicants will be informed in a single notification of all necessary corrections.

Failure to provide the corrections within the specified period shall be deemed as withdrawn.

Applicants deemed ineligible upon examination shall receive written notification with explanations.

Article 6.

Public Announcement

Upon completion of a preliminary review confirming that the application meets the requirements, an announcement will be published on the government website of the Cooperation Zone for a period of no fewer than three working days, unless under special circumstances.

During the public announcement period, any organization or individual may raise objections via written submission, email, or telephone to provide relevant explanations. The Economic Development Bureau will verify the concerns raised.

Article 7.

Recognition

If no objections are received by the end of the public announcement period, or if objections are found to be unsubstantiated, the Economic Development Bureau will officially announce the recognition results and file the results with the Zhuhai General Frontier Inspection Station and the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Public Security Department in the Cooperation Zone.

The Economic Development Bureau will reasonably determine the number of recognized tour agencies based on the implementation of relevant rules.

Article 8.

Supervision and Administration

Recognized tour agencies shall be subject to the business guidance, supervision, and administration of the Economic Development Bureau, and shall strictly conduct relevant business in accordance with the “Implementing Rules”.

Article 9.

Right of Interpretation

The Economic Development Bureau reserves the right to interpret these Measures.

Article 10.

Effective Date and Validity Period

These Measures shall come into effect on May 6, 2024, and remain valid for a period of one year.

Attachment:

Application Form for Recognition of Qualifications of Tour Agencies for Organizing and Operating Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

Attachment:

Application Form for Recognition of Qualifications of Tour Agencies for Organizing and Operating Hengqin-Macao Tourist Groups in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin

Entity Name			Taxpayer Identification Number
Project Contact Person		Contact Number		Office Telephone
Legal Representative			ID Number
Address
Business Scope	□Outbound Tourism Business □Inbound Tourism Business □Domestic Tourism Business
Conformance Self-Check	Possessing qualifications for operating outbound, inbound, and domestic tourism business, and having the capability and qualification to organize and operate tourist group services				Yes□ No□
	Not included in List of Enterprises with Abnormal Business Operation, List of Enterprises with Serious Unlawful and Dishonest Acts, List of Dishonest Judgment Debtors, List of Unreachable or Abnormally Operating Institutions, or any negative publicity information published on the “Credit China” website;				Yes□ No□
	Having sound mechanisms for tourism risk prevention and control, and contingency plans				Yes□ No□
	Having a good reputation in the industry and good customer reviews				Yes□ No□
Applicant Declaration: We hereby declare that all information and materials submitted in this application are true, accurate, valid, and lawful, and that there are no duplicate, false, disguised, or fabricated applications. We understand that we will bear all legal liabilities for any false information herein. Official Seal of the Applicant YYYY/MM/DD
Opinions of the Economic Development Bureau of the Cooperation Zone	Signature and Seal YYYY/MM/DD