With summer travel at a peak and cut-throat competition among travel agencies, there have been complaints that some travel houses were selling airline tickets at less than cost price and engaging in other unfair practices.
Around 10 travel and tourism offices have approached the Competition Protection Agency to complain about some competitors who were selling tickets at below cost and this adversely affected their business. The complainants said some of their competitors were luring customers by offering tickets at far below break-even point, but that these tickets did not provide seat confirmation or refunds to travelers.
They asked the agency to intervene and put an end to this practice of selling tickets at below cost, either directly from the travel offices or through their websites. They pointed to the recent cancellation crisis which saw more than 3,000 reservations cancelled at a total cost of around KD1.8 million. Most of these reservations were made for tickets below cost, but ultimately the traveler was affected both financially and through disruptions caused to their travel plans.
The complainants called on the agency to ensure that travel agencies did not sell tickets below cost and indulge in other unfair practices that harmed the reputation of the travel and tourism industry in the country.
For its part, the agency said it was committed to a plan to implement reforms to the economy that aim to prevent monopoly and bring about a competitive environment among traders, including travel and tourism offices, in line with a free-market economy. The agency also added that all travel agencies should sit-down and debate the issue of selling tickets below cost, which adversely affects competition.
Read Today's News TODAY... on our Telegram Channel click here to join and receive all the latest updates t.me/thetimeskuwait
