By The SUN
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| The new rules are meant to protect travelers from hotel room scalping and price gouging |
The government has taken
steps to stop what it called the scalping of quarantine hotel rooms by requiring
hotels to ensure that all room bookings are made under a real name and that
full payment is made at the time of booking.
In a statement issued late on
Friday, the government said the measures which were drawn up after consulting
the hotel industry, will take immediate effect.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
The move came in the wake of
widespread complaints about price gouging by travel agents who block-book hotel
rooms, then pass them on to whoever is willing to pay their asking price.
The practice is said to have
made it nearly impossible for travelers to secure hotel rooms in Hong Kong for
the entire month of July and August, when demand is at its peak because of the
number of people coming in at the end of the summer holiday.
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Because of the surge in
demand, hotel rooms have also become much pricier, with some costing double what
was charged previously. Even budget hotels now charge about $800 per day, when
they could be had for as low as $500 up to early May.
The problem affects even migrant
workers who are coming to Hong Kong for the first time, or are returning from a
holiday timed to coincide with the school break of their wards.
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In the government’s press
statement, the measures also include a prohibition on partner travel agents of
designated quarantine hotels against block booking rooms, and failing to provide
the full names of guests, and paying for each booking in full.
Hotels are also required to
ask travel agents to itemize the fees charged on a receipt issued to guests,
and ensure the room rate that was charged is the same as the published rate on
the government website
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The government said it will
not tolerate any kind of scalping activities and will take appropriate actions when
the new rules are not complied with.
The announcement was met with
mixed reactions from members of a quarantine support group. One said that for
as long as the hotel bookings remain transferrable the scalping will continue.
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| Press for details |
Another expressed concern,
saying full payment should not be required because travel plans or schedules
could easily change, and some hotels do not allow a refund unless it’s for
reasons beyond the guest’s control.
However, everyone agreed that
the only way to solve the hotel booking problem is to allow home quarantine, or
scrap the quarantine altogether.
Incoming Chief Executive John
Lee said last week he will look into the issue as soon as he takes office,
after trade and business leaders again issued calls to remove the quarantine requirement.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
However, reports citing government
sources the most that could happen is that the quarantine period will be
shortened to either three or five days.
Meanwhile, the government
said three more hotels will join the quarantine hotel scheme from August to
October, providing some 900 additional rooms.
That will result in some
24,000 rooms in 65 quarantine hotels being made available for inbound travelers
during the three months.
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