Stern warning: Tiong inspecting a guard of honour at the police headquarters in Kuching. The tourism minister had warned travel agents not to act irresponsibly. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: Action will be taken against any travel agent found to have flouted the law in their operations, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He said the ministry was looking into allegations of travel agents buying flight tickets in bulk to resell them at higher prices.
“I have asked my deputy minister to investigate this matter and engage with travel agents.
“If the allegations are found to be true, we will take action against those involved, including cancelling their licences if they have not complied with the law,” he told reporters after a working visit to the state police headquarters yesterday.
It was recently reported that some travel agents bought tickets to Mecca at wholesale prices from airlines and resold them at higher prices, leading to rising costs for performing the umrah.
Tiong also said he looked forward to working closely with the police in the tourism sector in Sarawak.
The minister said he had requested state police commissioner Comm Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri to increase the number of tourist police personnel, not only in Kuching but in other towns like Sibu and Bintulu.
“I’m satisfied with the police’s cooperation in the tourism sector,” he said, adding his ministry would also work with the state government to upgrade tourist facilities.
