Stern action against travel agencies attempting to tarnish Malaysia's image

BEIJING: Stern action will be taken against tour agencies suspected of tarnishing Malaysia's image with actions to make travel for foreign tourists to Johor difficult, said the State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong.
He said there had been complaints, especially from tourists from China, over such action by some travel agencies and that he had instructed the Malaysian Tourism and Culture Ministry's office in Johor to identify the agencies concerned.
"There are some travel agencies which inconvenience the tourists by dropping them very far from the Immigration Complex, like one to two kilometres away.
"There are also agencies which forced tourists to buy umbrellas. These actions can tarnish the image of the country's tourism industry, " he said in an interview with Bernama and The Star here.
Tee was asked on the congestion at the Second Link, especially with the arrival of many tourists from China currently.
The period between July and August is winter season in China and as such, many of its people would leave the country for holidays, including to Johor in Malaysia, he said, adding that the congestion at Immigration counters could be overcome if the travel agencies could submit the name list of visitors arriving a day or two earlier.
This would enable the Immigration authority to place additional staff at the counters, he said.
Tee was in China since Aug 17 to head a trade mission to Xinjiang and Gansu. — Bernama