Stronger presence: Increased police presence has been seen at KLIA after a recent shooting incident.
PETALING JAYA: The comfort of travellers should be a priority for airports and airlines, but tourism players say improvements in security and traffic management at local airports should also be a focus.
Malaysian Tourism Federation (MTF) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the tourism sector, one of the country’s key economic drivers, should prioritise enhancing passengers’ journeys.
“Reducing queue times is essential given Malaysia’s emphasis on tourism as a major economic activity.
“Nobody likes to wait for long periods at immigration counters, particularly after a long flight,” he said yesterday.
Tan’s comments were in response to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) implementation of service quality elements designed to ensure continuous improvements at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
He also emphasised that improvements at airports must include security enhancement, referencing the KLIA shooting incident that happened on April 14, which saw a civilian trespassing the airport with a loaded pistol and which led to one victim being shot.
He suggested that Mavcom conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify vulnerabilities in current security measures, as well as take corrective actions as needed.
“Increasing airport security by deploying additional personnel at key points – including entrances, exits, terminals and baggage claim areas – can help deter potential threats.
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“There should be security personnel conducting random checks and using advanced technology to detect suspicious activities more effectively,” he added.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Nigel Wong said the relevant authorities and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) should work together to ensure quicker and more efficient immigration counters to address long queues.
He said it was crucial for authorities to improve traffic management, especially for tour companies receiving inbound tourist groups.
“The authorities must also ensure that touts and impostors posing as authority figures are swiftly dealt with, to prevent travellers from being harassed, misled or cheated upon their arrival here,” he said.
Malaysian Tourism Agency Association (MTAA) president Datuk Dr Mohd Khalid Harun commended Mavcom’s move to improve passenger queue times.
He suggested that other airports and airlines follow suit to upgrade their services in line with the announcement.
“Those involved in the process should consider upgrading and improving their services to enhance passenger comfort, which in turn could smoothen the queuing process,” he added.
In GEORGE TOWN, stakeholders said the service provided at all airports in Malaysia should be improved.
One of the primary areas of focus should be the modernisation of airport infrastructure and facilities, said Penang MATTA chairman Carolyn Leong.
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“Many airports in Malaysia are facing challenges related to outdated infrastructure, including inadequate runway lighting, ageing terminal buildings and limited emergency response capabilities.
“These shortcomings not only compromise passenger safety but also hinder the ability of airports to handle increasing air traffic demand effectively,” she said.
Leong said that apart from modernisation, security was another important element that should be improved.
She said the omnipresence of security personnel played a vital role in instilling travellers’ confidence.
FIFA 2016 Puskas Award winner Mohd Faiz Subri, 37, sees the effort by Mavcom as a positive development for the Malaysian aviation industry.
The Penang Super League team ambassador said that as a frequent traveller, he would also like to see improvements at Penang International Airport.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh is confident that Mavcom is looking for ways to improve the facilities at all airports in the country.
“We are happy that Mavcom is looking into critical areas and has implemented initiatives to improve the airport experience for travellers,” he said.
