Tourism association announces new ceiling fares for tour buses, vans

 The Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association says this is a short-term measure to help operators hit by the increase in diesel prices.

Tour bus rates will range from up to RM1,100 for series tours to RM1,900-RM2,200 for domestic day tours while vans will cost up to RM900 for arranged tours. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

 The Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (Mita) has announced new ceiling fares for tour buses and vans, effective immediately, to help operators and travellers adjust to rising diesel prices.

In a statement, it said this is because tour buses, vans and ferries have not been included in the national diesel subsidy mechanism since the blanket subsidy was abolished in 2024.

Tour bus rates will range from up to RM1,100 for series tours to RM1,900-RM2,200 for domestic day tours, while vans will cost up to RM900 for series tours.

A bus trip from Kuala Lumpur to Kelantan will cost RM2,400, while trips to Penang and Ipoh will cost RM1,900.

These rates will be in effect until Wednesday (April 1). Mita did not say whether these rates would remain after this date.

Mita said this is a short-term, “quick win” move to ensure operators can continue to provide safe, reliable and high-quality transport services.

“We had to take this step to ensure tourism players can survive and continue serving customers,” its president Mint Leong said at a press conference today.

Leong also called on the government to reconsider diesel subsidy support for tour buses, proposing monthly quotas of 3,000 litres for buses and 2,500 litres for vans.

“We are aware that getting such subsidies is not easy. Our previous applications were rejected,” she said.

The price of diesel has increased by RM2.40 to about RM5.52 per litre over the past three weeks due to energy supply constraints linked to the Middle East conflict. - FMT