Operators unhappy travellers being made to cough up for costly test

JOHOR BARU: Most international travellers flying into the country have to take their rapid test (RTK-Antigen) at the airport upon arrival and there is no reason why it should be overpriced, says the Malaysia Tour Guides Association.

Its president Jimmy Leong said the price for an RTK test at international airports in the country was too high, both for foreign travellers and Malaysians returning from overseas but they were left with no choice but to cough up the money and take the mandatory test.

“We should be transparent with the RTK test price.

“It should be standardised at all airports that have international arrivals and must be similar with the price set by clinics,” he said.

Leong questioned why some RTK tests were very expensive at certain airports compared to those offered by clinics.

He urged the government to immediately look into the matter as health issues should not be turned into a profit-making scheme.

Leong said those entering the country via international airports were required to do the RTK test within the airport premises.

Even the sample is processed at the airport and not transported to a lab.

“The purpose of reopening our borders is to welcome tourists back into Malaysia,” he said, adding that having to pay for an overpriced RTK test upon arrival would only leave tourists unhappy.

“The government should lower the cost for international travellers to encourage more people to come to Malaysia,” he added.

In early March, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said visitors and Malaysians who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 would no longer have to quarantine when they enter the country.

They must, however, undergo a RT-PCR test two days before departure and a professional RTK test upon arrival.

“They can do the RTK test at the airport or at a health facility outside, but it must be done within 24 hours,” he said.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang also said it was not necessary to have on-arrival testing for passengers.

“Travellers should be allowed in as long as they produce PCR test results and a ‘fully-vaccinated’ certification. The country’s standard operating procedure needs regular review in line with medical facts and in tandem with other countries’ practices to stay competitive,” he added.

Malaysian Tourism Council president Uzaidi Udanis concurred, saying that there should not be too much red tape at airports.

“We must make it easier for all parties, especially for travellers, and we should follow the best practice approach.

“Of course we want a good SOP, but it must not hinder people from coming into the country,” he said.

“We have to live with the virus and we must make decisions based on data and science,” he said.