Some unfortunate tourists in Cameron Highlands had no choice but to sleep in their cars at a gas station in Berinchang, Pahang.

In a viral TikTok video by @tunacameron, several cars were seen parked at the gas station near Cameron Highlands because some drivers (guests) had to seek shelter there after being scammed by a homestay operator.

"The gas station in Brinchang is the focus of tourists who cannot find a place to stay tonight. They have to face the traffic again tomorrow after getting rest tonight," the caption stated.

According to the video, the congestion occurred around 1 AM on July 7, just in time for the long weekend.

It is understood that they couldn't find accommodation due to being cheated and facing technical problems like double booking. Due to the overflow of visitors in Cameron Highlands, some operators turned off their mobile phones because they couldn’t handle the volume of customer inquiries, especially regarding online bookings.

In the video, some drivers were seen entering the gas station, which was closed at the time, to find a spot in the already-congested area to park their vehicles.

In the comment section, @tunacameron also revealed that no rooms were available during the long weekend period, including through online bookings.

In an interview, the vice chairman of the Cameron Highlands Tourism Association, Chung Nam, pointed out that all hotels and homestays in the area were fully booked until Wednesday (July 10) due to the long weekend holiday.

He noted that the crowds during the holiday season and tourists seeking shelter in places like gas stations and schools are common.

“If you’re planning to stay in cheap hotels or homestays, I advise you to book early and avoid last-minute bookings in the future to avoid disappointment,” he said.

Watch here:

@tunacameron Malam ini tak dapat tempat penginapan,Esok pula kena hadap jem entah berapa jam,Bertabahla #homstay0194256971 #tunacameron #motorsewa #apartmentcameronhighlands #homstay0194256971 ♬ original sound - Tuna Cameron