Kuala Lumpur (2010-04-01)

THE TOURISM Ministry is still reviewing the requirement for travel agencies and tour operators to be members of the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agencies (MATTA) in order to renew their annual licence.

Tourism minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said no decision had been made because industry players had mixed feelings over the issue. “There is no deadline to abide to as there is no urgency to make a decision on the matter,” she said.

Earlier, in January, she said at a press conference that MATTA membership was being reviewed. A ministerial source later said that a review had been floated, following consultations with various national tourism associations that did not want to fall under MATTA’s umbrella. The source said the ministry’s view was that it should not favour MATTA over the other associations.

Car Rental Association of Malaysia president Joshua Peter Tan said five associations had signed a memorandum in October 2009 addressed to Dr Ng to request the ministry to reconsider the existing compulsory MATTA membership as a pre-condition for the annual renewal of licences.

The five associations were Bumitra Malaysia, Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, Malaysian Indian Travel & Tours Association and Car Rental Association of Malaysia.