KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) on March 12, has called upon the new tourism arts and culture minister to amendment certain provisos of the Tourism Industry Act 1992.
MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang has urged Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri to swiftly have the Fourth Schedule in that act amended or revoked altogether, more so with the difficulties and hardships faced over the COVID‐19 virus which has just been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization yesterday.
At a press conference Datuk Tan explained that the terms and conditions included those that govern refunds, cancellation and amendment conditions and payments both by consumer and travel‐related companies and deposits payment and refunds.
As MATTA has stated previously, travel and tour agents act as intermediaries between these various tourism services and some of these payments have already been forwarded by the agents to these tourism services. And based on airlines and hotels policies for instances these payments have been forfeited, which exposes the agents to a potential liability of RM500 million (US$117.92 million).
He added that over the past six years, MATTA, and other tourism groups had submitted detailed proposals to amend this antiquated terms and conditions and that perhaps it is better to revoke the Schedule completely in view of the COVID‐19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc with the tourism industry.
Datuk Tan said that they have met with MOTAC officials, consumer groups, legal groups to discuss this. He also emphasised that it is better for travel agents to operate freely in open competition and not be held back by outdated regulations, also to be on par and current with the rest of the world on standardisation of legislation on holiday contracts.
While they do not have actual figures, estimates could be about as much 70% drop in inbound visitors, with Datuk sharing that if COVID‐19 persisted till June the tourism industry would be in dire straits.
Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at a press conference yesterday after the first Cabinet meeting of the new government said they will try and implement the economic stimulus package for the tourism industry as soon as possible He added that they might review it and even add to it if need be.
Datuk Tan said: “We are indeed grateful for this package and hope it is put in place as soon as possible. Since most of the provisions are till end of June, perhaps, they might also look at extended if the situation changes”.