Malaysians exempted from Tourism Tax

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Nazri Abdul Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are exempted from paying tourism tax for all types of hotels and accommodation premises.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the tourism tax would instead only be imposed on foreign tourists staying at all types of accommodation premises, at the rate of RM10 per room per night.

He said  the move made showed that the government was receptive to the voice of the people, especially the low and middle-income group, besides wanting to boost domestic tourism.

Mohamed Nazri was replying to a question from Loke Siew Fook (DAP-Seremban) on the latest status of the implementation of tourism tax, in the Dewan Rakyat, here, today.

Previously, he had reportedly stated that only domestic tourists staying at four-star accommodation premises and above would have to pay tourism tax, while no such tax would be imposed for those of three-star and below.

Mohamed Nazri said the estimated annual tourism tax collection would be close to RM211 million based on the average occupancy rate.

“We expect the collection to increase when more tourist accommodation premises come forward to register, with the enforcement of the Tourism Tax Act.

“The ministry also plans to return RM1 for every RM10 in tax per room per night collected, to the state governments for the purpose of promoting tourism,” he said.

The minister said the tourism tax would not have a big impact on foreign tourist arrivals in the country as the exchange rate in Malaysian currency was lower compared with the US and Singapore dollars, and the Euro.

“This tax will be counted based on the number of night’s stay and the number of rooms used, and not on the number of persons staying. In fact, the hotel room rates in Malaysia are lower than in neighbouring countries,” he said.

On the tourism tax implementation date, Mohamed Nazri said it would be set after taking into account the Customs Department’s readiness to start the tax collection. – Bernama