Despite various initiatives taken by the interim government, the prices of air tickets to several international destinations, including Saudi Arabia, have surged again after a brief decline, according to travel agencies and passengers.
The abnormal rise in prices is attributed to weak government oversight, manipulation by syndicates, and non-compliance with the automatic process of the global distribution system (GDS) in ticket sales.
As a result, passengers are being forced to purchase tickets at significantly higher prices, particularly to destinations in the Middle East, where the majority of Bangladeshi migrants travel.
Travel agents say the current ticket prices from Bangladesh to various destinations in Saudi Arabia, particularly Madinah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah, range between Tk 80,000 and Tk 90,000.
At times, due to syndicate manipulation, prices soar to as high as Tk 100,000.
This has been persisting for the past two months, according to travel agencies.
The regular one-way fares on these routes are typically between Tk 45,000 and Tk 50,000.
Following government interventions, prices dropped to as low as Tk 35,000 in March and April.
However, fares have again risen sharply at an abnormal rate.
A leader of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), speaking to The Financial Express on condition of anonymity, says airfares for Umrah pilgrims are even higher.
He says such passengers currently have to pay between Tk 1,05,000 and Tk 1,07,000 for a ticket.
However, he notes that ticket prices for destinations outside the Middle East do not vary significantly.
According to Trip.com, a multinational online travel agency, the airfare from Kolkata, Bangladesh's nearest major Indian city, to Dammam ranges between $223 and $329.
Abdus Salam Aref, former president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), says one of the main reasons for the rise in ticket prices is that airlines distribute tickets among a select 15 to 20 agencies through their general sales agents (GSAs) in Bangladesh manually, keeping only a limited number available for the automatic online process.
Bangladesh has approximately 5,500 registered travel agencies, including over 1,500 accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
However, only 30 to 40 agencies are actively operating, largely due to the influence of a dominant syndicate within the industry.
This disparity exists because although tickets are meant to be sold through GDS, a worldwide computerised network system authorised by the IATA, this process is not being properly followed.
According to industry insiders, the monopoly held by 10 to 12 online travel agencies (OTAs) also plays a significant role in the rise of ticket prices.
Aref says stronger government oversight and monitoring are needed to ensure that tickets are sold through GDS.
In February and August this year, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism issued directives through two separate circulars to travel agencies to ensure transparency in airfare.
The circulars mandate airlines and travel agencies to sell all tickets online, with fares clearly displayed on both the website and the tickets.
They also instructed travel agencies to provide passengers with tickets showing the official prices from the airlines and issue sales receipts.
To curb price manipulation, the ministry also warned that agencies found stockpiling tickets or selling them through unauthorised channels would face penalties.
All ticket bookings, including group tickets, must include the passenger's name, passport number, and a photocopy of the passport, according to the circulars.
However, many travel agencies are not complying with the directives despite repeated warnings.
In September, the ministry cancelled the registration of 13 travel agencies for their involvement in a syndicate responsible for the abnormal increase in ticket prices across the country.
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