Mandatory for M’sian travel agents to sell travel insurance

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Tourism Ministry has made it mandatory,

effective this month, for all licensed travel agents in the country

to sell travel insurance to their clients for both local and overseas

travel.



This move is a bid to prevent travellers from losing their money in

case of the sudden closure of an agency as happened with Excellence

Holidays, which left 300 plus travellers stranded with a loss of

RM2.4million (US$700,000).



On how the ruling could be implemented Tourism Minister Datuk Seri

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said as the ministry that issues licences

for the agents it would advise them that they had to offer such

insurance when agents come to renew licences or when new companies

apply for licences.



The travellers have the flexibility to refuse the insurance coverage

but the agents must offer it. He however advised the travellers to

take up the insurance coverage.