Malaysia Warns of Unlicensed Tour Operators

(Dive Travel Business News - April 23, 2010) -- A November 2009 DTBN article, "Unlicensed Tour Operators Thrive on the Internet" discussed a trend in travel where the internet is now being used to persuate to buy from illegal agents by offering ridiculously cheap rates and empty promises. Now tourists to Malaysia are being advised not to buy tours from unlicensed operator or so-call "free lance agents" to avoid being conned.

Chairman of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) KL Tan reminded travelers that only bona fide tour operators licensed by the Tourism Ministry and registered with Matta are allowed to provide tour excursion packages

The regulating authority for licensed tour operators in Malaysia is the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia. Tour agents registered with the Ministry for either inbound or outbound tours have a public licence, a tour product licence and insurance, and proper cars licensed under commercial insurance policy. A quick way to distinguish a legal from an illegal tour operator is to check whether they have a Tourism Ministry licence number.

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