LETTERS: Even though domestic tourism expenditure is higher than inbound or outbound tourism expenditure, travel agents gain little.
The fact that RM15.5 billion was spent on petrol or diesel meant that the overwhelming number of domestic visitors drove their own vehicles, and more than 70 per cent of domestic tourists stayed in accommodation provided by relatives and friends.
Nearly all who paid to stay in hotels or private residences booked directly with accommodation providers or with online platforms without going through a travel agent.
It is similar with public transport provided by airlines, trains, buses and e-hailing apps.
Tour operators were more successful in selling travel arrangements to isolated natural sites devoid of public services, such as exploring a cave or to a sea teeming with marine life for scuba diving.
And travel agents mainly book flights and accommodations for their customers.
Tour operators cannot develop their business fully if they have only a superficial view of the industry, which is not much different from a layman's.
When asked to define domestic tours, they would identify customers as Malaysians buying packages for travel in the country.
This is only partly true as many do not realise that there is a sizeable number of foreigners in the country.
They include expatriates working in Malaysia and their family members staying here, foreign students and workers, plus tourists here and shopping for optional tours.
Likewise, those organising and selling outbound tours should not target Malaysians only as the market includes anyone in Malaysia as described above and also Singaporeans, Indonesians, Bruneians and Thais.
Y.S. CHAN
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times