Fees for holiday consultation

JOHOR BARU: Travel agencies here will be charging a fee to potential holiday makers and companies interested in purchasing customised tour packages. The move came after the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) proposed a fee guidelines earlier this month to standardise the industry while offering adequate and professional consultation services. Top Budget Tours Sdn Bhd director Tan Tee Chai said the proposal was a good way to promote professionalism among travel agents here.

In discussion: (From left) MATTA honorary secretary-general Joseph Xavier, MATTA president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun, MATTA Johor Chapter chairman Kenny Ngi and immediate past chairman Kathryn Lee during a recent press conference regarding the tour consultation fee.

“We spend hours over the phone on enquiries to plan customised travel packages for potential holiday makers but there are occasions when they decide to find other agencies as well,” he said. He added that giving free consultations was not a good business practice as the process consumed time and money. “I will definitely implement the consultation fee in my service charges beginning next year,” he said. Tan would refer to MATTA’s guidelines to determine how much he would charge.

Commenting on the same matter, New Asia Holiday Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd general manager Raaj Navaratnaa said he would also do the same beginning next year. “MATTA has proposed a good system for us to recover our resources and manpower spent on hours of consultation for travel packages,” he said. Raaj added that he would conduct a performance review before determining how much he would charge for the consultation. “Travel agents should abide by the proposal and charge an affordable rate for the consultation fee,” he said, adding these agencies should also ensure proper services provided.

MATTA president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said the move to charge the consultation fee would take effect beginning Jan 1. “We have set RM30 for an enquiry per holiday. “If it is a corporate trip, the fee is RM200 per enquiry for the first three quotations and RM500 per enquiry for subsequent quotations,” he said. It was reported on Nov 26 MATTA will charge prospective travellers a consultation fee when they seek advice about a planned vacation. The reason for the fee was for travel agencies to meet international standards and enhance its quality of service.

-thestar online.