Sixty tour guides and team leaders from Hong Kong and Macao will bring groups to Zhuhai during the National Day holiday now that they have licenses to practice in Hengqin New Area.

Qu Yongfeng, for instance, was one of the 60 to receive licenses on Sept 25. She will lead a tour to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and other attractions in Hengqin, Hong Kong, and Macao during the Golden Week. More than 20 foreign tourists from Portugal and the Philippines have already signed up.

The licensed tour leaders are graduates of Sept 23-25 pre-employment classes with theoretical study, practical training, and examinations. More training courses will be scheduled based on demand.

The training and opportunity result from the Implementation Plan for Hong Kong & Macao Tour Guides & Team Leaders to Practice in Hengqin New Area (Trial) issued by the Human Resources & Social Security, and Culture & Tourism departments of Guangdong Province. The plan is meant to boost tourism cooperation between the three areas and advance Hengqin as an International Recreation Island.

The trial will improve the overall service quality of tourism and build bridges and links for resource sharing between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao and international tourists, said Li Weihui, deputy Party secretary of Hengqin New Area.

This may also appeal to Hong Kong and Macao youths who expect to work or start businesses in the Chinese mainland. Guangdong is increasingly recognizing their occupational qualifications in tourism, health, education, and legal work, according to Yang Hongshan, deputy head of the Human Resources unit.

Tour guide with license to practice in Hengqin [Photo by Wu Zihao / hizh.cn]