TOURIST AGENCIES (Complaints against and plans to control)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Finance (a) how many travel or tour agencies have been registered with his Ministry to date; (b) how many of them are ticket agents of the Singapore Airlines; (c) how many of them are conducting overseas group tours; (d) whether and how many complaints of breach of contract against travel agencies have been lodged with the Authorities by persons who had participated in group tours; and (e) whether his Ministry plans to tighten control over group tour orientated travel agencies in order to save the public from being taken for a ride by fly-by-night travel agencies.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board has since December 1970 introduced the Tourist Promotion (Licensing and Control of Tourist Agencies) Regulations to license and control tour agencies. So far, 150 tour agencies conducting local tours have been licensed. Among these, 38 are agents of the Singapore Airlines and 54 of them also conduct overseas group tours.

There have been seven cases of complaints of breach of contract lodged with the Board against licensed tourist agencies. All these cases have been amicably settled between the parties concerned. Where complainants appear to have reason to feel cheated., the agencies have, on the advice of the Board, paid compensation. Where services rendered have been poor, the agencies have been warned to maintain a reasonable standard or have their licences revoked. The Board has, therefore, been able to influence and, if necessary, exercise effective control over licensed tourist agencies.

To protect members of the public from being taken for a ride, as the Member for Delta puts it, by fly-by-night travel agencies, I have asked the Board to introduce regulations to require any person or company engaged in the business of a tour agency to take out a licence, even where it handles only outward travel. The amendments to the regulations to empower the Board to license local tourist agencies handling outward travel are being drawn up.

Until the new regulations are brought into force, it is suggested that Singapore residents book their passages for their travel abroad through the 54 licensed Singapore tour agencies conducting overseas tours. The names of these licensed agencies can be obtained from the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board.