Malaysia Cracks Down On Illegal Foreign Tour Operators As Matta Backs New Measures In Kelantan

Published on September 18, 2025

In a move aimed astatine protecting Malaysia’s tourism industry, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has expressed afloat support for caller efforts by nan Road Transport Department (JPJ) Kelantan and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) to reside nan forbidden operations of foreign-registered vehicles, peculiarly those from Thailand. This inaugural follows caller reports that respective Thailand-registered vans were caught operating without valid permits during nan schoolhouse vacation period.

The misuse of the International Circulation Permit (ICP) has led to concerns regarding nan increasing number of overseas vehicles illegally transporting visitors successful Malaysia. These activities not only break Malaysian laws but besides undermine nan section tourism manufacture by providing unfair title to licensed Malaysian operators. In response, JPJ Kelantan, successful collaboration pinch MOTAC, has committed to carrying retired integrated operations to observe and extremity nan forbidden activities involving overseas circuit vehicles.

MATTA Supports Government’s Stand connected Protecting nan Tourism Industry

MATTA has afloat endorsed these measures, emphasizing nan value of safeguarding nan integrity of Malaysia’s tourism industry. By preventing foreign-registered vehicles from operating without nan basal permits, nan authorities purpose to protect nan business interests of morganatic section operators who comply pinch nan country’s strict licensing, taxation, and information regulations.

These forbidden operators, who often transportation retired operations nether nan radar, airs risks to rider information and importantly disrupt nan section system by bypassing basal ineligible processes. According to MATTA, nan introduction of unlicensed overseas vehicles not only creates unfair title but besides deprives section businesses of their rightful opportunities, undermining nan sustainable maturation of nan tourism sector.

Unlicensed Vehicles: A Growing Concern for Local Operators

MATTA’s beardown position connected nan matter was highlighted during a caller engagement convention successful Kelantan, wherever nan association, on pinch applicable agencies specified arsenic JPJ, nan Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), and Puspakom, voiced concerns astir nan antagonistic effects of unlicensed overseas vehicles connected nan section tourism industry. Members of MATTA expressed that nan influx of specified vehicles undermines nan spot and assurance that visitors person successful Malaysia’s tourism sector, arsenic they are not taxable to nan aforesaid standards and regulations arsenic section operators.

The forbidden beingness of overseas circuit vehicles operating without permits not only violates nan country’s laws but besides exposes passengers to imaginable information hazards. Tour operators successful Malaysia are required to adhere to strict standards, ensuring that vehicles are well-maintained and that drivers are afloat qualified. This provides visitors pinch a level of information and professionalism that forbidden operators neglect to offer.

Addressing nan Issue of Illegal Operators

MATTA has underscored that tackling nan rumor of forbidden overseas vehicles is captious to nan modernization of nan tourism industry. The relation has identified nan beingness of forbidden operators arsenic 1 of nan sector’s astir basal challenges. By eradicating specified practices, Malaysia tin unfastened up caller avenues for morganatic operators to thrive and expand, yet benefiting nan country’s tourism ecosystem.

In statement pinch these efforts, MATTA plans to motorboat a broad Safety Program aimed astatine enhancing manufacture standards and ensuring nan information and well-being of travelers. This inaugural reflects MATTA’s ongoing committedness to ensuring that its members uphold nan highest levels of professionalism, accountability, and work quality.

Collaborative Efforts to Uphold nan Law

MATTA has reaffirmed its committedness to moving intimately pinch JPJ, MOTAC, and different enforcement agencies to curb forbidden operations and guarantee that each tourism-related activities successful Malaysia are conducted successful afloat compliance pinch nan law. Through continuous cooperation, these measures are expected to foster a safer, fairer, and much sustainable tourism situation for some section operators and tourists.

The support of MATTA for nan government’s efforts is simply a important measurement successful nan correct direction, highlighting nan request for beardown regulations that guarantee fairness successful nan tourism sector. By eliminating forbidden overseas operators, Malaysia tin proceed to build connected its estimation arsenic a premier recreation destination while maintaining nan integrity of its section tourism industry.

Overview

The Malaysian government, successful business pinch MATTA, is taking a guidelines against nan misuse of nan International Circulation Permit (ICP) by foreign-registered vehicles, ensuring that nan section tourism manufacture is protected from unfair competition. Through integrated operations led by JPJ Kelantan and MOTAC, nan state intends to extremity forbidden overseas vehicles from operating wrong its borders, thereby maintaining nan information and competitiveness of its tourism sector. With continued collaboration and nan preamble of initiatives for illustration nan Safety Program, Malaysia is poised to uphold its precocious standards for tourism and recreation operations.