27 Sept 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Members of Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents are now required to include a basic insurance coverage for all its outbound packages.

Matta president Ngiam Foon said the move, effective from today, would be imposed on travellers purchasing overseas holiday packages.

�If customers refuse to pay, agents must ask them to sign a release form,� he said.

Ngiam said the new ruling was enforced following the Excellence Holiday saga which left many travellers in the lurch after the company went bust.

He said agents were allowed to engage any insurance company besides the Matta Medic Evac, but it must provide coverage for accident, death, medical, hospitalisation, cancellation of tour, abscondment or insolvency.

The Matta Medic Evac charges only RM7.50 for three days� coverage of up to RM320,000.