The Tourism Board will offer one-off concessions to shops and the travel trade next year - at a cost of about HK$21 million - to help tide companies over the economic downturn, chairman James Tien Pei-chun said.
The board will lose about HK$7 million by waiving next year's membership fees for the 6,600 shops and restaurants accredited under its Quality Tourism Services scheme.
New members will pay only half the fee next year.
Mr Tien said the move was expected to boost membership of the scheme by about 500.
The annual fees range from HK$5,000 for one outlet to a maximum of HK$39,000 for more than 100 outlets owned or run by the same company.
Fees to participate in overseas trade shows and travel missions will be cut by more than 50 per cent. This would cost an estimated HK$14 million, but is expected to attract as many as 50 per cent more companies to join, Mr Tien said.
