Regulatory Reform for Protecting the Interests of Umrah Package Travellers in Malaysia

Umrah package travel has been recognized as one of the important contributors to the Malaysian tourism industry. Muslims in Malaysia travel by package to Mecca and Medina for their specific purpose: to perform a religious obligation (Umrah) for fulfilling the unity of soul, spirit and heart. Malaysian Umrah package travellers come from different social, economic, educational, geographical and age backgrounds. All those differences raise many issues and the very important issue within it is potential information vulnerability where it has an impact on the decision-making process. Due to that problem, they may suffer financial, emotional and spiritual loss when an inappropriate purchasing decision is made. Therefore, this research is aimed to provide the most appropriate mechanism for protecting Malaysian Umrah package travellers from any potential information vulnerability that might defeat their interests. This research investigates specific information vulnerabilities of Malaysian Umrah package travellers and specific need of information as to protect Umrah package travellers. It identifies the appropriateness of information regulation as an initial protective measure for Malaysian Umrah package travellers. It examines the policies and laws governing the protection of package travellers in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) to identify progressive ideas for Malaysia’s adoption. It scrutinizes the current Malaysian legal framework in relation to the protection of Umrah package travellers as consumers. It presents a specific model purposely to protect Malaysian Umrah package travellers. It is hoped that specific model of regulatory approach which requires the tour operators and travel agents to provide essential information in relation to Umrah package travel at the pre-contractual stage will be the most appropriate protection measure for Malaysian Umrah package travellers.