Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Conference on Business and Technology on Navigating the Technological Tide - The Evolution and Challenges of Business Model Innovation (ICBT), Cambridge, Kanada, 19 - 20 Nisan 2024, cilt.1082, ss.25-33, (Tam Metin Bildiri)
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has issued a call to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to urgently update the Fourth Schedule of the Tourism Industry (Tour Operating Business and Travel Agency Business) Regulation 1992. The current regulations are outdated and fail to protect the interests of Umrah pilgrims, leaving them vulnerable to fraudulent Umrah packages, non-performance of contracts, non-standardized Umrah contracts, and a lack of remedies in existing laws. The COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 was a wake-up call for the industry as mass cancellations of Umrah packages resulted in significant financial, emotional, and spiritual losses for pilgrims. The absence of a law during this crisis has highlighted the urgent need for a standard Umrah contract agreement that would safeguard the interests of both travel agents and Umrah package travellers. To address this issue, a qualitative study was conducted, using doctrinal and descriptive-analytical techniques to examine the need for a standard Umrah contract agreement. The results of the study indicate that an urgent update to the current regulations is necessary to facilitate smooth cooperation between both parties, reduce the risk of fraudulent Umrah packages, and ensure that contracts are fulfilled as promised. The proposed standard Umrah contract agreement is a solution that provides a guide for both parties to act according to the promises made in the agreement. It is in parallel with existing laws governing Umrah activities in Malaysia, and thus, is a practical approach of defending the rights of Umrah pilgrims and travel agencies.