KUALA LUMPUR – Tour bus and van rental services will temporarily increase their rates by 20% starting June 17 following the hike in the retail price of diesel, said the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (Mita).
Its president Leong Hoon Min said this is a temporary measure pending the government’s decision to include them in the list of vehicles eligible for subsidies under the Subsidised Diesel Control System.
Leong said the association had no choice but to proceed with the price increase after many questions and concerns from association members.
“For example, with the diesel price increase, the new price of a tour bus rental will be RM2,400 – including the 20% increase – instead of RM2,000 previously.
However, he said this will be a temporary measure taken, pending the government’s decision.
“We support the government’s action to meet and discuss this issue and find a solution. But it’ll be challenging to wait until the end of this month and (possibly until) next month (for the discussion).
“We have a heavy heart about this, because we needed to find a way to compensate, to fuel our buses and vans every day,” Leong said.
He urged Putrajaya to extend the diesel subsidy to tour bus operators, as the price increase of RM1.20 per litre to RM3.35 per litre is burdensome for some operators, and may affect the cost of tourism packages and customers.
Last Tuesday, Leong, together with 20 tour bus operators submitted a letter, appealing the government’s decision to increase diesel prices for tourism vehicles.
The letter was delegated to Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry’s deputy secretary-general (culture) Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff in Putrajaya, to be submitted to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
Leong further added that Mita will also be monitoring the diesel price hike and that they will adjust their prices accordingly for the time being.
The price of diesel is now at RM3.35 per litre since June 10 as part of the government’s moves to trim its subsidy bill.
Subsidies will only be available to certain vehicles in the land public transport and logistics sector through a fleet card system and for individual diesel users, fishermen and agriculture-related vehicles under the Budi Madani scheme.
Last month, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents urged Putrajaya to extend the diesel subsidy to all types of tourism vehicles in view of the subsidy withdrawal planned for June. – June 14, 2024