Monday, November 29, 2010

TRAVEL AGENTS TO CHARGE FEE - NOT A MUST

It is not compulsory for local tour agents and operators to impose consultation fees for advice on vacations.

Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Paul Paw said the fees were merely guidelines by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).

“The guidelines are to avoid certain irresponsible quarters from simply placing bookings,” he said.

Paw was commenting on a statement by MATTA on Thursday that a consultation fee would be charged effective Jan 1 when prospective travellers sought advice on vacations.

A number of tour agents from Kuala Lumpur would not impose such fees to continue to retain their customers.

These agents feel that the living standard in Malaysia was not on par with that in Western countries, where many travel agents charged consultation fees.

They think RM30 for an enquiry is expensive. Customers will be chased away if we charge the fee.

Travel and tour agents in Sabah said they were also unlikely to impose the fees.

Regular travellers said that it was unfair for travel agents to charge the fees because it was the consumers’ right to compare prices.


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