DAMMAM, 12 July — A survey of travel agencies in Dammam, Alkhobar and Ahsa has disproved reports circulating in the Eastern Province that some travel agencies are refusing to accept Visa Credit toward payment for airlines tickets.
An Arab News survey revealed that there is no travel agency which has refused to accept Visa Credit Card or Master Card as a mode of payment.
The reports singled out one of the leading travel agencies in the region, Ace Travel, as the one that has been refusing payment by card. Although the manager of Ace Travel was not available for comment, a counter attendant confirmed that his travel agency was accepting Visa Credit Card. "Why shouldn’t we accept credit cards? It is normal and acceptable everywhere in the world," he said.
Other leading travel agencies in the region also confirmed that they are all accepting Visa Credit Card and some other credit cards as well.
Khaled Al-Shammary, general Manager of Al-Bassam Travel, said that his travel agency was accepting Visa and Master Cards for payment. "Why would anyone refuse a credit card?" he wondered.
Waseem Ahmad Khan of Saad Travels said that his travel agency was accepting credit cards.
"Only we charge two percent extra for holiday vouchers because the credit card company also charges two percent commission on those vouchers. But on airline tickets we do accept credit cards without any extra charge," he said.
Zahir Ahmad, Manager of Al-Fareed Travels in Alkhobar, expressed surprise over such false reports and said that plastic cards have become a way of life and no one can ever refuse payments against them.
