Travel agencies in Malaysia may leave out London over Brexit
PETALING JAYA: Travel agencies may change their itinerary and exclude London as a destination from their tours to Europe should there be immigration problems due to Brexit.
While it is still unknown how Brexit would change the immigration laws for tourists entering and exiting Britain, local travel agencies could be changing the itinerary for their Europe tour packages.
“We do not know what will happen as details are scarce at the moment. Travel agencies will need to react according to the change of laws of the country they are bringing their clients,” he said.
Currently, he said tour packages covering Western Europe would usually include London.
“If there is a huge change in UK immigration law affecting foreign tourists, I think travel agencies will focus more on single-country tours.
“They may single out UK if there is an issue on immigration that could lead to unnecessary losses,” he said.
Some of the Western Europe tour packages provided by travel agencies in Malaysia include travelling from London to Paris via Eurostar.
There are concerns that after Brexit, there will be longer queues at customs and airports, slowing down the time tourists need to get in and out of Britain.
Urban Rhythms Tours Adventures & Travel Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Nigel Wong said travel agencies could be changing the itinerary involving Britain to cater for possible changes.
“Tour agencies are still unsure about the details. Most of us will wait and see,” he said, adding that he did not expect a significant change affecting Malaysian tourists.
Travel agency JE Vacations Sdn Bhd founder Jeffrey Wong said he did not foresee big changes to immigration laws that would affect tourism.
“I think things will be the same. Travel agencies will continue their existing packages. Britain will try its best to ensure Brexit will not affect its tourism,” he said.
Source : TheStar
