Good news, peeps!
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has announced that Malaysians are fully exempted from paying the tourism tax, which will start imposing from 1st August 2017. However, foreigners will be charged a flat rate of RM10 per night for all types of hotels and accommodation.
When asked by Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban) about the latest status of the tourism tax, Nazri replied, “The government is concerned and sensitive to the needs of the people. Hence, Malaysians will be exempted from the tax We will impose a RM10 flat rate from 5-star to zero-star hotels for foreign tourists, and Malaysians will be exempted from the tax across all classifications of hotels.”
He also explained that the tourism tax will not impact the country’s tourist arrival figures and is necessary as the revenue collected will be spent on the upkeep of tourism facilities.
“Malaysian hotel rates are still cheaper compared to neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Singapore. Furthermore, many countries which implemented similar tourism tax had actually registered an increase in tourist arrivals,” he said.
Tourists, including Malaysians who are travelling within the country, were expected to pay overnight stays depending on the hotel classification. The tourism tax was initially set at RM2.50 per room per night at a non-rated accommodation to RM20 per room per night at a 5-star accommodation.
Last month, 3,000 Chinese tourists cancelled their trips to Malaysia because they had to pay tourism tax of about RM100,000.
Sources: NST, The Star, Astro Awani.
