Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Sabah travel agents to make full refund to Mount Kinabalu climbers for cancellations


KOTA KINABALU: The imposing of cancellation fee on potential mountain climbers, who have made bookings, has left red face on tourism authorities.

And now the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) have directed its members to extend a full-refund to climbers for the mountain climbing packages booked between June 5 and Aug 31.

MATTA vice president Inbound Datuk Tan Kok Liang told New Sabah Times that agents should not be imposing any cancellation charges as the service provider Sutera Sanctuary Lodges has confirmed full refund to its customers.

Tan reminded its members to stay united and help rebuild the local tourism industry.

“By giving full refund strengthens our professionalism and moral ethics as the cancellations are beyond our control due to the earthquake which hit Mount Kinabalu on June 5.

“Any MATTA member that declined to cooperate may be queried by the licensing division of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture,” he warned.

He said: “This is not the time to impose cancellation policies.”

The decision was made after a briefing chaired by State Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun with the presence of Sabah Parks director Dr. Jamili Nais, Sabah Tourism Board general manager Datuk Irene Charuruks and Ag Ahmad Zaki from Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, along with Sani Sham of Tourism Malaysia and Ravi Karthiravelu from Sutera Sanctuary Lodges and MATTA Sabah Chapter.

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