Measures to ensure runway blackout won’t recur vital – MATTA Sabah

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KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Association of Tour N Travel Agents (MATTA) Sabah Chapter has urged Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB)  to take proactive measures to ensure runway lights failure will not recur again.

Making the call in a statement here yesterday, MATTA Sabah chairman KL Tan said the destination image is badly affected for tourist stranded for hours whether coming into Sabah or connecting for flights back to their countries.

“The delay for the past two days has disrupted tour programmes, cancellation of hotel accommodation, increase in transportation costs, staff and drivers’ overtime allowances and related costs.

“It is high time for MAB to begin working on a compensation plan for all affected to pacify agitated and disappointed tourists and restore public confidence. For instance, there is a group of foreign tourists diverted to Brunei and thereafter to Kuala Lumpur and decided to abort the trip to Sabah.

“Who is absorbing the cancellation charges and the lost of revenue?” Tan asked.

On another issue, Tan applaud the two-day integrated operations which ended on October 20 by MOTOUR to nab illegal tour companies.

“This has been the requests of the industry and MATTA Sabah hopes similar operations can be consistently carried out to prevent tourists from being cheated and enhance professionalism and quality standards in the industry,” urged Tan.