LETTERS: Most tourist attractions in the country offer discounts on entrance tickets for senior citizens. That is a real deal for the elderly.
Some tourist spots do not have such discounts. Recently, I visited the Sekinchan Rice Mill gallery in Selangor, which is listed by the Tourism Board.
It was RM15 for an adult ticket, but there was no elderly ticket concession.
Last month, I took a ferry to Pulau Ketam off Port Klang. I was charged RM2 for an adult ticket on the return journey. The ferry operator, too, had never heard of a senior citizen concession.
However, some tourist spots have exclusive lanes for older adults. The Penang funicular train has a special lane for senior citizens to board first.
This caring consideration and priority go a long way in making the day for aged visitors like me.
Sightseeing and touring popular tourist spots involve hotel accommodation. Sadly, hotels also do not offer any concession rates for the elderly.
This is the bulk of the expenditure when travelling and why many senior citizens do not go on tours.
When I was in the civil service, some hotels used to give concession rates for government servants. I do not know whether these rates are still available.
Hopefully, hotels and resorts will offer concession rates for retirees during the off-peak season.
This would encourage more of us to travel within the country and make Cuti-Cuti Malaysia truly for all ages.
SAMUEL YESUIAH
Seremban, Negri Sembilan
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
