Safety concerns following recent natural disasters cited as key reason
PETALING JAYA: Recent weather disruptions and safety concerns have led some Malaysians to cancel or defer travel plans to high-altitude locations, while others are opting for destinations closer to home.
“At this stage, we expect travellers booked for Nepal and Tibet, particularly itineraries involving the affected areas, to either cancel, postpone or request a change of destination due to safety concerns and travel disruptions,” says Malaysian Muslim Travel Agency Association president Muhammad Syazri Afiq Rosli.
He said domestic tourism could be an alternative for those who had already applied for leave from work and did not want to cancel or reschedule their holidays.
“Domestic destinations can be a more practical option for travellers who prefer not to add to their budget to buy new flight tickets or a more expensive replacement package,” he said.
Flash floods and mudslides struck on Aug 26 along the Nepal-Tibet border after a glacier collapse triggered a surge of water, mud and debris into river valleys, damaging infrastructure and disrupting travel routes in the region.
Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association president Mint Leong said one of her Nepal tour groups scheduled for November had been cancelled after participants became concerned about safety following the floods and mudslides.
She said October and November were traditionally among the best months for Malaysians to visit Nepal but travellers were now taking a more cautious approach.
“Once they heard about the floods, they decided to cancel the trip for safety reasons,” she said.
Leong said some travellers planning trips to Bhutan had also expressed concerns although the kingdom was not impacted by the disaster.
However, she said such concerns were usually temporary.
“When an incident happens, travellers will naturally have concerns about safety and may choose to postpone their trips. This is usually a temporary reaction,” she said.
A senior travel industry player, who wished to be identified as Beng, said his agency had seen cancellations from two tour groups whose trips to Tibet were scheduled for next month.
However, some groups had proceeded as their air tickets had already been issued, he said.
“Usually, travel agencies issue air tickets about a month before departure. Once the tickets are issued, they are generally non-refundable.
“If they have only paid a deposit, some travel agencies may be able to provide a refund,” he said.
Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association president Datuk Dr Angie Ng said the impact of the cancellations could be partly offset by continued demand for domestic and inbound tourism.
Domestic travel had gained momentum over the past year, she said.
She also pointed out that Malaysia was expected to attract more Chinese visitors during the National Day holiday in China, commonly known as Golden Week, from Oct 1 to 7.
“Malaysia is one of the destinations Chinese tourists are considering. And the visa-free policy has helped to boost interest,” she said.
Ng said that hotel and flight bookings were expected to pick up towards the end of this month as Chinese travellers finalised their holiday plans.
