Express and tour bus operators not getting diesel subsidies, so brace for pricier travel

PETALING JAYA: Travelling is set to cost more following the exclusion of express and tour bus services from receiving diesel subsidies effective June 10.

Industry players say prices could rise between 15% to 30% owing to the sudden implementation of rationalised diesel subsidies.

Peninsular Tour Bus Operators Association president Steven Chong said operation costs would increase up to 30%, adding that the rationalisation disrupted services provided by about 150 association members whose customers are mainly foreign tourists.

“On top of the floating diesel rate, we need to pay all sorts of expenses like bus maintenance, bills, salaries, spare parts, and now we have to pay a service tax of 8%.

“Operators can’t afford to absorb the prices,” he said.

Chong said operators feared losing customers, who are mainly from overseas tour agencies, as their packages were quoted based on the subsidised diesel rate of RM2.15 per litre.

“With this new rate, it will surely be more expensive, and we are afraid that the agents will not take up our offers,” he said.

He said a memorandum on the matter was also submitted to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister yesterday.

According to the memorandum sighted by The Star, the association received “thousands of phone calls” from tour bus operators following the implementation of the new floating diesel rate at RM3.35 per litre.

It said operators had to absorb extra costs as the tourists were already inbound and the original price quotations could not be retracted.

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali said there was a monthly volume quota limit for express buses to fuel up at the subsidised diesel rate.

Once the quote passes, however, they would have to purchase diesel at floated prices.

“The quota for express buses was set at 2,880 litres per month, which would only be enough for about 15 days.

“Once they reach the quota, they will have to pay for diesel at the floating rate,” he said, adding only a few operators had their quota limit increase approved.

Express buses are categorised into two main fare classes – economy and executive.

While executive coaches have the freedom to raise their fares, a ceiling on the economy class fare has been in place since 2008.

“Bus operators are only allowed to operate 70% of their fleet with executive coaches, while the remaining ones must be economy,” Ashfar said.

Malaysian Tourism Federation president Datuk Tan Kok Liang expects a 27% hike in the cost of tourism services in the peninsula.

He, however, said tour operators would honour rates provided for previously signed commitments.

“We need to honour the commitments made, but it will see us losing money,” he said.

He urged the government to set aside a 12-month grace period for the tourism industry, allowing them ample time to adjust rates.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong said rate adjustments between 15-20% could be expected.

He said the rate increase varied according to the type of vehicles used, routes and distance covered.

Wong appealed for diesel-powered vehicles in the tourism sector to be included in the list of vehicles exempted through SKDS.

“Some breathing space will definitely help,” he said, adding that they had also requested a meeting with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to discuss the situation.