Datuk Tan Kok Liang
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) will direct its members to extend full refund to climbers for the mountain climbing packages cancelled from June 5, 2015 to August 31, 2015.
Its vice president (Inbound) Datuk Tan Kok Liang, said that agents should not be imposing any cancellation charges as the service provider Sutera Sanctuary Lodges had confirmed full refund to its customers.
Tan reminded its members to stay united and help rebuild the local tourism industry.
“By giving full refund it strengthens our professionalism and moral ethics as the cancellations are beyond our control due to the recent 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.
“This is not the time to impose cancellation policies,” added Tan.
The decision was made after a briefing chaired by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun on Monday afternoon also attended by a representative from Sabah Parks, Dr Jamili Nais, Datuk Irene Charuruks of Sabah Tourism Board, Ag Ahmad Zaki from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Sani Sham of Tourism Malaysia, Ravi Karthiravelu from Sutera Sanctuary Lodges and Matta Sabah Chapter.
The briefing was made after an email received by The Borneo Post from a local mountain climbing enthusiast who urged the authority to be more proactive in handling the three-week closure of Mount Kinabalu to avoid further damage done to the tourism industry.
The enthusiast, who introduced himself as KK Tan, and will be joining a group of friends to climb the Mount Kinabalu in early July this year, argued that by strictly applying the cancellation policy at this point in time after the disaster was just ridiculous.
“The authority must have foreseen all these and do something. At least give a directive to the agencies involved to offer an option of cancellation with full refund for those who have booked the trip or rescheduled the climb to say within six months from the date of the earthquake.
“Then the world will give Malaysia the thumbs-up. The confidence of tourists will come back as we care for their safety and other aspects. Do we need to have negative news and comments to go viral in the net before we take remedial actions to save face?” asked Tan.
After the briefing with Masidi, the general manager of Sutera Sanctuary Lodges Ravi Karthiravelu said they were in the midst of processing the refunds which will be given in full but on staggered basis.
“Rest assured full refund will be made and give us some time to process,” he reiterated. “Rehabilitation and repair works will commence soon but with a reduced carrying capacity for a start,” said Jamili who is the director of Sabah Parks.
“However, business is as normal for other tour packages to Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs.” he said.