MELAKA: Tour bus operators are reminded to always get registered tour guides for their bus services, says Melaka Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry director Jay Yeow.
He said that those who fail to do so could be subject to a compound notice under the Tourism Industry Act.
He said an integrated operation involving the ministry’s offices in Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan and Johor, as well as the Melaka Road Transport Department (JPJ) was conducted last week.
“Of the 20 tour buses that entered Melaka, five of them were imposed the maximum compound of RM5,000 for not using the services of a tour guide,” he told reporters at the launch of the Ramadan menu at Imperial Heritage Hotel.
Yeow then said that there are 170 registered tour guides in Melaka.
He added that a tour bus should have a tour guide, but if it is used for other purposes that do not involve tourists, the bus operator is required to apply for permission, for example, to transport students to a school programme.
“We have received many complaints regarding tour buses that do not provide tour guides, but the information given is incomplete which makes it difficult for us to investigate,” he said and advised the public to lodge complaints by providing complete information to the ministry’s Public Complaint Management System (SISPAA) at https://motac.spab.gov.my to facilitate faster enforcement. – Bernama