SIBU: Members of the public who plan to go travelling or on a tour are advised to liaise with travel and tour agencies that have a good track record in handling tour packages rather than using unknown ones.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when giving this advice here yesterday also stressed that this was important to avoid falling prey to unscrupulous travel agents who lure unsuspecting tourists with cheap travel packages.
He said this in response to the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ (Matta) call for consumers to be vigilant over ‘cheap travel packages’ offered by travel agencies, especially online. Matta president Datuk Tan Kok Liang had commented on a media report on a travel package scam involving over RM810,000 and affecting some 120 travellers.
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Tan reminded consumers to practise diligence before signing up for travel packages offered online such as through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, adding that there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’.
Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said: “Yes…I fully agree on this. Consumers must be wary and not fall prey to unscrupulous travel agents who are out to exploit would-be-travellers with their cheap travel packages.
“It is better to liaise with travel and tour agencies that have a good track record in handling tour packages…though it might cost slightly more compared to liaising with an unknown travel agency.
“There are lots of con men out there and the travel and tourism Industry is not spared of this menace.”
Meanwhile, Tan had also advised consumers who had been cheated by irresponsible or illegal travel agent to immediately lodge a police report, and file a claim with the Consumer Tribunal.
Tan added that the consumers concerned could further pursue the matter with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) which is the regulatory and licensing authority for travel agents.
He pointed out that Matta takes this matter seriously and swift legal action including criminal charges must be taken against any companies or individuals found to be involved or associated with such fraudulent activities. -TheBorneoPost
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