KOTA KINABALU: The implementation of new international passenger service charge (PSC) will not reduce the number of tourist arrivals as the increase is only minimal, said a travel agency here.
Popular Express Travel Sdn Bhd managing director Dewi Chen pointed out that the PSC which was previously subsidized by the government, should be lifted as tourists were meant to spend money in our country.
Instead of subsidizing tourists, Chen said the money should be used to subsidize daily essential items such as rice, cooking oil and salt, adding that the subsidy was said to cost the government around RM80 million a year.
Chen added that Sabah should be looking into higher yield tourists with mid-income and above.
She pointed out that backpackers do not spend much during their travel. Some even complained to Sabah Tourism Board (STB) of their stay in backpacker lodges, which cost around USD 7 a night.
Chen continued to say that inbound travel agencies also have to pay expensive parking fees for tour buses to pick up tourists at the airport, and it was also expensive to visit Kinabalu Park and the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Parks.
She said the government did not have to subsidize tourists as they should spend money when coming to our country.
Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB) announced on Tuesday that it would be implementing the new international PSC as well as aircraft landing and parking charges at the airports operated by the group.
The international PSC would be increased from RM51 to RM65 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and from RM25 to RM32 at Terminal 2 Kota Kinabalu. The new rates will be effective from September 15.
Travel agent Peter Wong said that his travel agency had yet to receive any update of the increase of the PSC from any of the airlines.
Hence, when he was shown the newspaper report that the PSC would be increased, he was a bit surprised.
“We don’t know because we haven’t been informed of this change,” he said, adding the 25 per cent increase was huge.
He viewed that the hike would have a negative impact on industry players, such as travel agents like him.
He also said that the increase should not have taken place in view of the present economic situation.
Wong added that it was also unfair to passengers and said that if Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd wanted to charge anyone, they should charge the airlines since they were increasing their prices.
“Why do they want to put the cost increase on travelers?” he asked.
Wong also informed that they had received a directive from AirAsia that it would charging its manual check-in passengers RM10 each.
He said that this would take effect on September 21.
Meanwhile, students Margarie Elysae and Dwen Denis said that they would still travel by ir despite the increase of PSC.
“It is still affordable, especially if traveling by low-cost carrier,” they said.