MILENNIALS are more than just a tech-savvy, ride-sharing generation. They are mobile, opting for experiences like travel over possessions.
I share this aspect of my generation’s passions, constantly trying to save for my next adventure to refresh and reignite that pure desire of experience something new.
But a weaker ringgit, along with an increasing cost of living have hampered the travel aspirations of young Malaysians.
It’s a fact that air travel is getting more expensive in Malaysia. It was recently announced that the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) will be increased to RM73 from RM50 at klia2—our supposed ‘budget’ airport— as well as a RM1 levy for all departing passengers starting early next year.
Although the increase will only affect non-ASEAN international flights, the PSC rates for domestic and ASEAN flights have already been raised earlier this year to RM11 and RM35, respectively in all Malaysian airports.
Escalating travel expenses may not necessarily stop Malaysians – young and old – from taking the occasional trip abroad, but it doesn’t leave much room for younger Malaysians to save money for other pursuits.
For many young Malaysians, these costs might dissuade them from traveling altogether. For families, prices may triple or quadruple for a simple getaway, especially to places outside our borders.
In other instances, people will have to rethink their travel options. A friend of mine had been making plans to backpack around Europe for quite some time. But the steady increase of prices for air travel from
Malaysia over the past five years have postponed those plans indefinitely.
Other people I know have actually changed their travel destinations at the last minute because their budget simply could not cover the expenses for the trips that they originally planned on taking.
Most of them consequently opted to go to places that are closer to home where it’s relatively cheaper.
Additional costs associated to traveling in Malaysia have affected our visitors as well. Tourists arriving into the country are forced to spend more money to enjoy our amenities, including the newly-introduced hotel tax that has made booking accommodation more expensive for all travelers from abroad.
Considering these charges, several of my foreign friends with plans to come to Malaysia have expressed great disappointment.
A friend from my alma mater who recently stopped by was surprised by how much money he had to fork out for his travel expenses here compared to Vietnam, even though the two countries are close neighbours.
Millennials who travel on a budget are hurt the most, so to speak.
Travel the world on a shoestring budget
Guides on how-to save money may be useful but they do not necessarily cover the airfare and other unavoidable expenses.
The so-called ‘traveling on a budget’ trend may not cut it anymore as “cheap travel” opportunities are getting scarce, especially with the authorities seemingly determined to finding ways to make “cheap travel” less accessible to everyone.
Some people have shrugged it off and argued that it’s merely tough times for our economy, and that it’s a matter of better planning our travels or investing our financials elsewhere.
But the deliberate price increases for flights and other commodities have limited our capacity to choose those options in the first place.
MILLENNIALS consider travel as very important, it represents that one chance in a year where we get to explore cultures different from our own, a youthful curiosity unchained from the rituals of everyday work.
Moreover, encouraging young Malaysians to travel provides them that opportunity to learn more about Malaysia from the outside looking in; fostering open-mindedness and tolerance.
But, millennials aren’t exactly immune to the price increases of travel. We are very much price-conscious travelers.
The authorities need to think twice about imposing further airfare hikes. It shouldn’t seek to clip the wings of young Malaysians.
Until then, we wait with bated breath ...
* Shamil Norshidi is the President of Transparency International Malaysia for 2017-2019 and a crime analyst.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Shamil Norshidi
Mon Oct 16 2017
But, millennials arent exactly immune to the price increases of travel. We are very much price-conscious travelers. - Filepic
Battle Of The Reds: Legenda Liverpool masih bertenaga
Legenda Manchester United terpaksa akur dengan kekalahan kepada legenda Liverpool dengan jaringan 4-2.
Boling Padang: Farah Ain muncul juara dunia!
Farah pamer aksi luar biasa dalam penampilan sulungnya di pentas bertaraf dunia dengan kemenangan straight sets 6-2 dan 6-3.
Sultan Nazrin, Tuanku Zara hadiri majlis Aidilfitri PDRM Perak
Sultan dan Raja Permaisuri Perak berkenan berangkat menghadiri Majlis Sambutan Aidilfitri PDRM Kontinjen Perak 2024.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Kebajikan, pendidikan anak-anak wira dipastikan tidak terabai - Menteri
Kementerian Pendidikan lakukan susur tindak bagi memastikan kebajikan 10 orang anak mangsa nahas helikopter dijaga sehingga tamat persekolahan kelak.
Bintang TikTok Iraq, Umm Fahad ditembak mati di luar rumah
Pihak berkuasa Iraq umum penubuhan "jawatankuasa siasatan khas- untuk menjejaki pembunuh yang tidak dikenali itu.
PM Anwar tiba di Riyadh untuk hadiri Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia
Perdana Menteri Anwar tiba di Riyadh dalam rangka lawatan tiga hari bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (WEF).
Jemputan peribadi ke Mesyuarat Khas WEF bukti keakraban Putera Mahkota Mohammed, PM
Ini merupakan lawatan keempat Anwar ke Arab Saudi sejak dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri.
Kerajaan Pusat peruntuk RM1.59 bilion untuk pembangunan fizikal di Terengganu
Peruntukan tersebut melibatkan 99 projek baharu dan 296 projek sambungan di bawah Rolling Plan 4 (RP4) Rancangan Malaysia ke-12 (RMK12).
Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di setiap daerah
Kerajaan Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di kesemua 11 daerah di negeri ini bagi menggalakkan kemasukan lebih banyak pelaburan asing khususnya dari China.
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
PM Vietnam cadang ASEAN jadi model transformasi digital global
Perdana Menteri Vietnam mencadangkan orientasi kejayaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai model dalam transformasi digital di peringkat global.
Malaysia muncul destinasi utama pengembangan perniagaan di ASEAN - Kajian UOB
Malaysia telah muncul sebagai negara paling penting dalam ASEAN untuk diceburi perniagaan, seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh Kajian Tinjauan Perniagaan UOB 2024 (PKS & Perusahaan Besar).
Malaysia perlu masa untuk teliti cadangan visa bersama enam negara ASEAN
Malaysia memerlukan lebih masa untuk meneliti cadangan Thailand mengenai program visa bersama dengan enam negara ASEAN lain.
Konflik Myanmar: ASEAN tegas kepentingan laksana Konsensus Lima Perkara
ASEAN tegaskan semula komitmen bantu Myanmar cari penyelesaian dengan mewujudkan persekitaran kondusif melalu pelaksanaan Konsensus Lima Perkara.
Ringgit ditutup rendah berbanding dolar AS
Pada 6 petang, ringgit merosot kepada 4.7785/7815 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7680/7730 semasa ditutup pada Jumaat.
Malaysia sedia jadi hab pusat untuk Pejabat Keluarga di ASEAN
ASEAN semakin mendapat fokus daripada firma pejabat keluarga berikutan kestabilan ekonomi dan pertumbuhan di rantau ini.
LRT Pulau Pinang: Mobiliti, pemangkin pelancongan dan tidak ancam perkhidmatan feri
Pelaksanaan projek LRT Laluan Mutiara Pulau Pinang, dilihat sebagai pengangkutan alternatif penduduk negeri ini bagi mengatasi masalah trafik.
Jenama “Kuasa Tenaga Boleh Diperbaharui Asia” bakal lonjak Sarawak ke persada global - Abang Jo
Abang Johari Tun Openg berkata, Sarawak berpotensi menjadi hab inisiatif peralihan kepada penggunaan tenaga tanpa karbon ketika dunia bergerak ke arah -net-zero- menjelang 2050.
ASEAN: Saifuddin gesa Malaysia lebih proaktif tangani isu Myanmar
Usaha proaktif akan membolehkan Malaysia membentuk persekitaran yang aman dan inklusif dalam rantau ASEAN.
Jadikan ASEAN platform pembelian ubat secara pukal - Dr Noor Hisham
Usaha berterusan perlu dilaksanakan kerajaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai platform pembelian ubat-ubatan dan peralatan kesihatan menerusi perolehan secara pukal.