KUALA LUMPUR, 1 APRIL 2026 – Malaysia’s tourism transport sector is facing mounting pressure as diesel prices continue to climb, prompting the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents to call for urgent intervention. With a majority of tour buses and vans consuming high volumes of fuel monthly, operators are increasingly unable to absorb rising operational costs while maintaining competitive pricing.
The industry body highlighted that many transport providers are operating on razor-thin margins, leaving little room to manoeuvre amid cost surges. As a solution, MATTA is advocating for a temporary and transparent fuel surcharge model that aligns with industry best practices, alongside targeted subsidies. These measures are designed not to generate profit, but to stabilise operations and safeguard the broader tourism value chain. Without intervention, the sustainability of tourism transport services — a critical backbone of the industry — may be at risk.
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