Extra for overseas travel and Tour World vacations

Published: Monday, March 26, 2022

There are some “extra” requirements for vacation planning during an epidemic that did not exist before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Travel Insurance – COVID-19-related medical and hospitalization costs are a must when visiting some countries.

Ujaidi Udanis, president of the Malaysian Tourism Council, says tourists need to have insurance because in many countries, such as Turkey, they cannot be admitted to any clinic or hospital if you do not have insurance coverage. Insurance is a must and you need to choose an insurance company carefully.

Ujaidi, who is also the president of the Malaysia Inbound Tourism Association (MITA), said that in order for a foreigner to enjoy a smooth journey, tourists should book a trip through a travel agent.

“Travel agents are well aware of this, so it’s best to take their advice,” he said.

Ujaidi suggested that those who want to travel abroad should check the latest travel requirements and the advice issued by the consulates of the countries they are going to, including the type of vaccine adopted, as these requirements change from time to time.

He said the best way for Malaysians is to contact the embassy.

In addition, he said travelers must adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as wearing masks. They also have to avoid crowded places.

He said passengers should also make sure they take care of their health along with the necessary vitamins and supplements.

Agreeing with Uzaidi, Cynthia Tan, outbound vice-president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), said it was good to study the costs and options of insurance coverage for Covid-19 treatment.

He said these requirements vary from country to country. He urged those traveling to go through a travel agency as they are well aware of all these requirements.

For example, he said, going through travel agents would be helpful if a person became infected with the virus while abroad and needed help dealing with the authorities there.

He said bookings for the trip have not yet been taken, there is a lot of interest from customers.

Countries that may be popular choices among travelers are those that have relaxed their SOPs and opened their borders to European countries, Tan said.

Ujaidi, meanwhile, said long-distance destinations are popular with travelers. In the last two months, long-distance countries like Turkey, Dubai, Switzerland and of course the United Kingdom (preferred), he added.

He said travel to ASEAN countries could increase once it is fully open to Malaysians. He said tour agents are also expecting at least 2 million tourists to visit Malaysia.

However, he said the airlines had imposed surcharges due to rising fuel prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

He said that the cost will increase a bit. Visitors as well as Malaysian returnees who have been fully vaccinated do not need to be segregated upon arrival.

However, they must perform an RT-PCR test two days before departure and a rapid test (RTK) upon arrival.

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Tags: COVID-19 epidemic, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Malaysian Tourism Council