Latest news with #TourismVehiclesLicensingAct1999
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Nationwide clampdown begins on illegal tourism players
PETALING JAYA: Enforcement against illegal tourism businesses is being ramped up ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 to ensure they all operate within the law. Inspections are being conducted, both proactively and based on public complaints, in line with the Tourism Industry Act 1992 and the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999. 'When violations are identified, formal inspection notices are issued in accordance with existing procedures,' the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry said in a statement. The action comes after a court in Penang convicted Renewage Group Sdn Bhd for operating without a valid tourism licence on June 16. The company was fined RM30,000. The ministry said nationwide integrated operations were being carried out with other enforcement and regulatory agencies to safeguard visitors and uphold industry standards. Five travel agencies have had their licences revoked between 2024 and 2025 for regulation breaches. These unlicensed operators pose a serious threat to the industry by undercutting legitimate businesses, said Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong. 'These illegal players don't need offices, don't pay for licences or insurance, and can therefore offer cheaper rates. But this leaves consumers exposed to fraud and without legal protection if things go wrong, such as trip cancellations or accidents,' he said. Wong urged tourism stakeholders to work only with licensed guides, travel agencies and transport providers and not fall prey to cheats on social media. 'Social media is now a key channel for unlicensed players. We're seeing issues in places like Langkawi and other entry points, where unauthorised individuals and even foreigners are acting as tour guides,' he said, adding that there is a need for more enforcement. Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association president Mint Leong echoed the call for stronger action, noting that unlicensed operators can also damage Malaysia's image. 'Illegal tourism businesses pose real risks to safety and credibility,' she said. Leong said the booming demand for travel both inbound and outbound has fuelled misuse. 'Anyone can upload beautiful pictures on social media and attract customers. But many of these 'too good to be true' offers are traps,' she said. 'When an operator is caught, it should be made public. Let people see that enforcement is happening – it sends a message and helps prevent more victims.' Malaysian Women Tourist Guide Association president Erina Loo, meanwhile, urged both local and foreign visitors to verify tour operators through official channels. 'All licensed agencies, guides, homestay providers and operators are listed on the ministry's official website,' she said. For foreign visitors, Loo advised contacting Tourism Malaysia's overseas offices or Malaysian embassies. She also cautioned independent travellers to do their homework before hiring guides, adding that there were legal limits for licensed tour guides too. 'A licensed guide may lead a tour but cannot sell or advertise tour packages,' she said.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- The Sun
UPSI bus tragedy: MOTAC calls for return of regulatory power for tourism transportation
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) today called for the return of regulatory powers over tourism transportation to the ministry following the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik last Monday. MOTAC stated today that the accident was not only a serious road tragedy but also exposed deep issues within Malaysia's tourism transport safety system. According to the statement, the incident has raised international concerns among those involved in tourism and student exchange programs from ASEAN, the Middle East, China, Japan, and South Korea, leading to a lack of confidence in the country's tourism transport safety assurance mechanisms. 'The threat to confidence in these transport mechanisms comes as Malaysia is actively preparing for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026), thereby raising doubts about Malaysia's tourism safety image in the international market,' the statement said. MOTAC informed that the regulatory power, which was formerly under the ministry through the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999 (Act 594), had been transferred to the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). 'After this transfer of power, no comprehensive regulatory framework encompassing tourism service features, tourist safety requirements, and international standards could be established. This has resulted in the current regulatory void,' the statement said. MOTAC announced that from the end of this month until August, over 500 international exchange students are scheduled to arrive in Malaysia for exchange programs in Sabah. 'Facing the uncertainty of the current tourism transport safety system, many collaborating units and institutions have re-evaluated their original plans. 'If tourism transport safety cannot be guaranteed, not only will educational exchange programs be affected, but Malaysia's position as a regional tourism hub will also be threatened,' the statement read. MOTAC informed that previously, the ministry had proposed several reform measures, including a daily driving limit of eight hours for tourism bus drivers, two drivers for long-distance journeys, mandatory rest during travel, urine tests before starting a journey, a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking system, and mandatory insurance. 'However, because MOTAC does not hold direct regulatory power, these measures have yet to be fully implemented, and the risks to tourists continue. Therefore, MOTAC calls on all relevant parties, especially the Ministry of Transport, to take immediate action to address the existing regulatory gaps and expedite the process of returning regulatory power over tourism transportation to MOTAC. 'Only in this way can we rebuild Malaysia's image as a safe and reliable tourism destination, on par with international standards, ensuring that visitors, including academic exchange groups, can enjoy their experience with full confidence,' the statement concluded.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- The Sun
MOTAC seeks return of tourism transport regulatory power
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) today called for the return of regulatory powers over tourism transportation to the ministry following the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik last Monday. MOTAC stated today that the accident was not only a serious road tragedy but also exposed deep issues within Malaysia's tourism transport safety system. According to the statement, the incident has raised international concerns among those involved in tourism and student exchange programs from ASEAN, the Middle East, China, Japan, and South Korea, leading to a lack of confidence in the country's tourism transport safety assurance mechanisms. 'The threat to confidence in these transport mechanisms comes as Malaysia is actively preparing for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026), thereby raising doubts about Malaysia's tourism safety image in the international market,' the statement said. MOTAC informed that the regulatory power, which was formerly under the ministry through the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999 (Act 594), had been transferred to the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). 'After this transfer of power, no comprehensive regulatory framework encompassing tourism service features, tourist safety requirements, and international standards could be established. This has resulted in the current regulatory void,' the statement said. MOTAC announced that from the end of this month until August, over 500 international exchange students are scheduled to arrive in Malaysia for exchange programs in Sabah. 'Facing the uncertainty of the current tourism transport safety system, many collaborating units and institutions have re-evaluated their original plans. 'If tourism transport safety cannot be guaranteed, not only will educational exchange programs be affected, but Malaysia's position as a regional tourism hub will also be threatened,' the statement read. MOTAC informed that previously, the ministry had proposed several reform measures, including a daily driving limit of eight hours for tourism bus drivers, two drivers for long-distance journeys, mandatory rest during travel, urine tests before starting a journey, a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking system, and mandatory insurance. 'However, because MOTAC does not hold direct regulatory power, these measures have yet to be fully implemented, and the risks to tourists continue. Therefore, MOTAC calls on all relevant parties, especially the Ministry of Transport, to take immediate action to address the existing regulatory gaps and expedite the process of returning regulatory power over tourism transportation to MOTAC. 'Only in this way can we rebuild Malaysia's image as a safe and reliable tourism destination, on par with international standards, ensuring that visitors, including academic exchange groups, can enjoy their experience with full confidence,' the statement concluded.
The Star
11-06-2025
- The Star
Gerik bus crash: Tourism ministry calls for return of regulatory power over sector's transportation
PUTRAJAYA: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry called for the return of regulatory powers over tourism transportation to the ministry following the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik on Monday (June 9). It stated that the accident was not only a serious road tragedy but also exposed deep issues within Malaysia's tourism transport safety system. According to the statement, the incident has raised international concerns among those involved in tourism and student exchange programs from Asean, the Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea, leading to a lack of confidence in the country's tourism transport safety assurance mechanisms. "The threat to confidence in these transport mechanisms comes as Malaysia is actively preparing for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026), thereby raising doubts about Malaysia's tourism safety image in the international market," the statement said on Wednesday (June 11). The ministry said that the regulatory power, which was formerly under the ministry through the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999 (Act 594), had been transferred to the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). "After this transfer of power, no comprehensive regulatory framework encompassing tourism service features, tourist safety requirements, and international standards could be established. This has resulted in the current regulatory void," the statement said. It announced that from the end of this month until August, over 500 international exchange students are scheduled to arrive in Malaysia for exchange programmes in Sabah. "Facing the uncertainty of the current tourism transport safety system, many collaborating units and institutions have re-evaluated their original plans. "If tourism transport safety cannot be guaranteed, not only will educational exchange programs be affected, but Malaysia's position as a regional tourism hub will also be threatened," the statement read. The ministry said that previously, the ministry had proposed several reform measures, including a daily driving limit of eight hours for tourism bus drivers, two drivers for long-distance journeys, mandatory rest during travel, urine tests before starting a journey, a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking system, and mandatory insurance. "However, because we do not hold direct regulatory power, these measures have yet to be fully implemented, and the risks to tourists continue. The ministry called on all relevant parties, especially the Transport Ministry to take immediate action to address the existing regulatory gaps and expedite the process of returning regulatory power over tourism transportation. "Only in this way can we rebuild Malaysia's image as a safe and reliable tourism destination, on par with international standards, ensuring that visitors, including academic exchange groups, can enjoy their experience with full confidence," the statement concluded.- Bernama
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New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Tourism ministry wants control over tourism vehicles; cites other countries' lack of confidence
KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry is calling for control over tourism-related vehicles such as buses to be returned to it, citing a loss of confidence in Malaysian road safety among various countries. It said, in a statement, parties involved in tourism and student exchange programmes from Asean, the Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea had expressed their concerns to the ministry. It added that there was a lack of confidence in Malaysia's tourism transport safety assurance mechanisms among these countries following the bus crash in Gerik which saw 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students killed and many others injured, "The level of concern is such that several international institutions are now reviewing their plans to send students to Malaysia. "Over 500 students are scheduled to arrive in Sabah for exchange programmes between June and August this year. "If we are unable to guarantee their safety, it will not only affect these programmes but could also damage Malaysia's reputation as a regional tourism hub," it said. The ministry no longer has full oversight of the industry, as its regulatory powers under the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999 were previously transferred to the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad). It retains authority only in Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak. "This regulatory fragmentation has made it difficult to introduce a comprehensive framework that meets international safety standards and protects the welfare of tourists. "We urge that the powers once held by the ministry be fully restored. Tourism transport is not merely about mobility — it is the first touchpoint for visitors and forms a core part of Malaysia's tourism image," said the ministry. It warned that the lack of regulatory control had also hindered the implementation of key safety reforms it had previously proposed. These included limiting driving hours for tour bus drivers to eight hours per day, requiring two drivers for long-distance trips, mandatory rest periods, pre-departure urine screenings, real-time GPS tracking, speed monitoring systems, and compulsory insurance coverage. "Due to the absence of direct regulatory authority, these proposals have not been fully implemented, and the risks to tourists remain," the ministry said. Citing the 2023 Global Tourist Driving Anxiety Index by UK-based Scrap Car Comparison, the ministry said Malaysia was ranked the ninth most "worrying" country for global travellers and second in Asean. This, it said, was not just due to accident statistics but also perceived lax road discipline and traffic enforcement. "This shows that despite our efforts to position Malaysia as a tourist-friendly nation, the actual experience on our roads continues to cause unease and discomfort among international visitors." The ministry stressed that safety was the most fundamental expectation of any traveller, and without a dependable transport system, Malaysia risks losing the confidence of the international market. "The UPSI tragedy is not an isolated case, but a symptom of a systemic failure. "We call on all ministries involved, particularly the Transport Ministry, to take this issue seriously and expedite efforts to return regulatory authority to us. "Only through such reforms can we restore trust in Malaysia's tourism transport system and ensure that all visitors, including academic exchange groups, can enjoy their time here with peace of mind," the statement added.
