In early 2003, an outbreak of SARS in Hong Kong led to a dip in inbound travel to the city. Many local travel agencies have begun hosting below cost inbound tours, called "zero-fee tours" for mainland Chinese tourists. They profit by attracting these tourists to shop in special retailers who charge them high prices, but offer a lucrative commission tour operators. Zero duty tours first attracted public attention in October 2006 when a group of tourists were left at the pier, because they spend too little shopping. Then, in June 2010, a tourist died of a heart attack after a heated argument with a guide on trade agreements. Despite the preventive measures taken by the industry associations, tourist complaints continues to rise and high-profile cases in which guides insult or even fight with the tourists continue to occur. Fashion Travel Limited is a local travel agency that hosts regularly priced inbound tours. Facing the strong market demand for zero-fee tours, he wanted to understand the business model of the zero charge point: what is the driving force, it is stable, and the consequences for the company and the industry as a whole? She also wants to determine how to position your business tour included in the short and long term. "Hide
by Wen Zhou, Penelope Chan Source: University of Hong Kong, 27 pages. Publication Date: June 12, 2012. Prod. #: HKU972-PDF-ENG