Johor has received complaints from Chinese tourists that they were “forced” to buy certain items from tour agents.
State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the Culture and Tourism Ministry should take action, including revoking their licences, against such agents for tarnishing Malaysia’s image.
He said one of the complaints was that the tourists were forced to buy umbrellas when entering Malaysia via the Second Link whenever it rains.
“They (the Chinese tourists) will be asked to get down (from the buses) and walk a few hundred metres from the immigration checkpoint at the Second Link,” he said here on Wednesday after leading a week-long trade and tourism mission to Xinjiang and Gansu in China.
Tee said the Chinese tourists were left with no choice but to buy the umbrellas or they would get wet.
“Their (agents) action is not doing justice to the country’s tourism industry as Federal and state agencies are spending millions of ringgit to promote Malaysia,” said Tee.
On congestion at the Second Link due to the increased number of Chinese tourists entering Malaysia by buses, Tee said this was due to the long school break in China.
He said travel agents bringing Chinese tourists from Singapore via the Second Link should forward the number of tourists to the immigration department at least two days before the journey.
“This is like dining at a popular restaurant – you need to book a table in advance or else you have to wait to be seated,” he said.
He said more tourists from India are expected to visit Johor with the introduction of direct flights between Johor Baru and Kolkatta this November.