KUALA LUMPUR: The increase in diesel prices by 80 sen per litre is considered to be putting critical pressure on the tour bus industry and has the potential to affect the momentum of the country’s preparations for Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026.
The Malaysian Association of Travel Agencies (MATA) in a statement today informed that the sudden increase in fuel costs has a direct impact on the operating costs of tour bus operators, who are still in the post-pandemic recovery phase.
Its president, Mohd Khalid Harun, said the tour bus industry is completely dependent on the use of diesel, especially for long-distance travel involving domestic and international tourists, school groups, the corporate sector and the organisation of large-scale events.
“The increase in diesel prices by 80 sen per litre puts very serious pressure on tour bus operators because it directly increases the cost of each trip and affects the stability of the company’s operations,” he said.
He said most bus bookings are made in advance at an agreed price, leaving operators with no room to adjust prices when there is a sudden increase in costs.
According to him, this situation has caused profit margins to shrink and in some cases to be almost non-existent, thus affecting the company’s cash flow.
Apart from fuel costs, tour bus operators also bear various other operating costs including vehicle maintenance, driver salaries, toll payments, permits and insurance coverage, which overall have also increased following the increase in diesel prices.
Mohd Khalid said if the situation continues, tour bus operators may be forced to increase rental prices to cover increased operating costs, which could directly affect the tourism sector, school groups, the corporate sector and event organisers.
Commenting further, he said that the increase in tourism transportation costs has the potential to put pressure on the country’s efforts to strengthen the tourism industry in the 2026 World Tourism Day.
“Malaysia is actively promoting TMM to attract more international tourists. However, if tourism transportation costs continue to increase, it could affect the competitiveness of the country’s tourism packages,” he said.
In this regard, MATA hopes that the government can examine appropriate measures to help tourism transport operators deal with increased operating costs, including considering support mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of the industry and the stability of the country’s tourism sector.
–ASTRO AWANI
