KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism Ministry will meet with tour and travel operators to discuss cancellations of tour packages to Japan and the refund of deposits paid by customers following the earthquake and tsunami there.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng had been directed to convene a meeting with the Malaysian Assoc-iation of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and outbound tour operators soon.
She said the ministry had received a number of complaints from the public about losing their deposit.
“Deposits will be forfeited following a withdrawal, that is the usual practice, but now, it is not that they don’t want to go, it is simply not the right time.
“It is all about fairness and we hope to reach an amicable decision,” she said after launching the Malaysia GP Sale yesterday.
Dr Ng also said the ministry expected a 30% drop in Japanese visitors over the next few months.
About 500,000 Japanese visited Malaysia last year, bringing in RM1.5bil in revenue.
Dr Ng added that the ministry’s 24-hour crisis management centre had been activated following the dis-aster in Japan to collect information and address issues to ensure the effect on the tourism industry was minimal.
On local tourists in Japan, Dr Ng said there were no reports of injury or fatality. Dr Ng added that this would be a very challenging year for the tourism sector in view of the disaster in Japan and the political crisis in the Middle East.
Warm Regard, Sara Pandian
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