Travel agency off the hook for not guiding group in Turkiye

The Star

18 hours ago

Farid says an Istanbul-based operator, not his company, was in charge of handling ground arrangements in Turkiye.
A TRAVEL agency has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal in a case involving a private group trip to Turkiye.
Tribunal president Hafez Zalkapli dismissed a claim for a RM5,000 refund, ruling that the holiday package had been fully utilised and that there was no deception on the part of the travel and tour company based in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
The company's managing director Farid Nazmi expressed relief over the verdict, stating that their responsibilities were limited to making ground arrangements for the tour.
'I am glad that the case was dismissed, including the RM5,000 refund demanded by the claimant,' Farid told StarMetro outside the Tribunal office at Menara Ansar, Johor Baru.
The respondent said the claimant had used the company's services for ground arrangements for a private group trip to Turkiye from May 8 to 14.
The ground arrangements for the 7D/6N trip covered the Turkish cities of Istanbul, Bursa, Ankara, Cappadocia and Pamukkale.
Farid said the ground arrangements were RM3,590 each for nine adults and RM2,154 each for two children with full-board meals, hotel rooms, transportation and entrance tickets, bringing the total cost to RM36,618.
'Unlike an open trip where outsiders can join, a private trip caters only to specific people –normally family members, relatives or friends,' explained the respondent.
Farid said an Istanbul-based operator was to handle all the ground arrangements for the trip once the group was in Turkiye.
He said the company had suggested that the claimant engage a Malaysian tour leader to accompany the group in Turkiye at an additional charge, but this was declined by the claimant.
'We had also lined up optional activities for the group – a jeep safari and hot-air balloon rides costing US$150 (RM633) each, which were not included in the original arrangements,' said Farid.
He said tour participants could choose to sign up for the optional activities at an additional cost.
During the hearing, the claimant said she was dissatisfied with the arrangements as the respondent had failed to handle the group from the start to the end of the trip and had assigned the task to a Turkish ground operator.
'The respondent did not consult us about engaging a Turkish ground operator to handle our group,' said the claimant.
Those who need assistance for Tribunal-related matters can call 07-227 1755 or 07-227 1766 or go to the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal at Level 17, Menara Ansar, Jalan Trus, Johor Baru.