The STAR – November 26 10
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) will charge prospective travellers a “consultation fee” when they seek advice about a planned vacation.
I am a frequent traveler but unfortunately most of the travel agents that I have come across are more like sales people – Jual .. Jual …Sell Sell only. These agents do not even know the places of interest in a particular destination.
They just ditch out the flyer for you to read “Everything is in the flyers” is what you get from them. This we need to pay RM30? Just ditching out flyer. I can do it for RM10 – cheaper by RM20.
The reason: it wants to meet international standards and increase its quality of service.
Ditching out flyers is to meet international standards!!!! I think the international travel agency (whatever they are called) needs to reassess itself.
On some of the trips that I have taken the local tour leader will pass on their responsibility to the overseas travel guide and we are left at their mercy. Is this the standard that you are talking about? Or the standard is passing flyers that we need to pay RM30?
The association has set a guideline of RM30 for an enquiry, whether the trip is for a domestic or overseas holiday.
However, if the trip is of a corporate nature, the fee is RM200 per enquiry for the first three quotations and RM500 per enquiry for subsequent quotations.
I see get rich scheme here.
What the local travel agents need to do is to get innovative and meet market and consumer challenges and demands.
I can be their consultant … I charge by the HOUR .. my rate RM450 per hour. Interested!!!!!!
Should the client agree to take up a package proposed by the tour or travel agent, the fees would be absorbed into the payment made for the trip.
I see the “Take it or Leave it” policy
The move is effective from Jan 1, association president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said at a press conference at Wisma Matta in Desa Pandan here yesterday.
Service tax is up from 5% to 6%.... and now RM30 for travel consultancy … I wonder what will be up next?
The association advised its members that the fees were guidelines by Matta to enhance the professionalism of the industry.
They may adjust them (the guidelines) according to their (travel) company’s needs and policies.
I see GET RICH Scheme here…..again
If it wants to increase margins, they will increase the consultant fee. If the miss their yearly or monthly target they will increase the fee. If bosses decide to give himself a fat bonus he increases the commission.
“Travel agents and tour operators are free to impose a charge they feel reflects their level of service.”
That means it’s not RM30….. it can RM50…RM70…..RM100……RM1000….. what a great way to do business.
May be every time you call them they will charge for “Professional Telephone Call Consutlant Fee”.
If they put you on hold for 10 minutes they will call it ”Professional Waiting Time Consultancy Fee”.
If they are checking the rates its call “Professional Checking Consultancy Fee”
How about:
Receipt Issuing Consultancy Fee
At the Airport “Checking in Consultancy Fee”
Visa Coordination Consultancy Fee
Special Consultancy Fee with Foreign Counterpart.
Mohd Khalid said such fees had been enforced in other countries, adding that it had helped to increase the level of service and quality among travel agents and tour operators.
From what I have mentioned we have a long way to go in terms of professionalism.
“Over the years, airline commissions have declined and hotel internet bookings have increased.
So this is passing the cost to the consumers.
What about being innovative in your packages. Look at the packages they ditch out … nothing different– same itinerary from one travel agent to another. Only difference is price and Horrible Service, which we have to pay RM30 from 2011.
“But we are still rendering free services to those who ask for quotations for tour packages, even before they confirm their purchase with us,” he said.
So next time if a company sends in for a tender they have to charge for it? Isn’t forwarding quotation part and parcel of any business?
Just image I call a computer company for a quotation “Sorry sir.. we need to charge you RM30 for quotation … can I have your credit card number before I process your quotation. We also charge you RM30 for telephone consultancy fee”
Matta deputy president John Tan added that a lot of work went into compiling the quotation and the work could not be done for free.
John Tan … how much work?…. 30 days to ditch out the quotation? It takes me 2 weeks to do a quotation for my client so I think I should charge…. Isn’t all this costed into you quotation? If not, there is something wrong … you guys really need a financial consultant to teach you costings.
Hahahahah.
I would appreciate if we are all honest and say that you need to increase cost….. Period and not give lame excuses.
Just image, if every industry is to practice this, imagine the effect on the economy?
“Some corporate clients have the habit of asking several companies for quotations and, at the end, only one receives the deal. This is not fair to us,” he said.
Hahahah…this is a BIG Joke ..it sound to me like a little boy crying. Isn’t this what business is all about? The market is getting so competitive and here we have people crying….. my GOD .. this is shockin!!!! …Nothing is FAIR Mr. John Tan.
Don’t we all try to get the best deals… from renovating to computers and to even buying handphones….. so what’s wrong with people scouting about for the best deals.
For more information log on to www.matta.org.my or call 03-92876881.
