PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will be a more affordable destination for foreign tourists with the weaker ringgit but tour agencies that cater to overseas travel are in for a rough ride, says the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA).
MATTA president Hamzah Rahmat said the ringgit’s slide was not all that bad for inbound tourism.
“The Government should go all out to promote Malaysia as a destination of choice for international tourism,” he said.
But on the flip side, Malaysians are likely to delay or opt not to travel overseas.
Hamzah said both AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines could help by dropping fuel surcharges now that crude oil prices were falling.
POTO Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd group CEO Ab Rahman Mohd Ali said this was the time for MAS and AirAsia to reciprocate support to local travel companies.
“We supported them during hard times and they can help the industry by providing incentives for outbound packages,” he said.
Ab Rahman said local travellers would likely be cautious about booking destinations like the United States and Europe in the first six months of the year.
“Hopefully, the ringgit will strengthen and there will be increased demand in the second half of 2015,” he said.
In the short term, he said travel agencies would promote affordable regional destinations like Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.
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