Govt has decided to maintain tourism tax, says minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The flat rate of RM10 per room per night charged on foreign tourists will be maintained, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi (pic).

"Under the administration of the new Government, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has reviewed implementation of the tourism tax.

"From the review, the implementation of the tax by advanced countries such as the US, Netherlands, Italy, Singapore and Thailand proved that it brought positive growth to the tourism sector in the long term," Mohamaddin said in a written reply to a question raised by Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah (PH-Port Dickson) in Parliament.

He noted that Japan and Arab Saudi had recently implemented the tourism tax.

He said the tax is expected to bring positive impact to the tourism industry through continued finance to promote and upgrade tourism product infrastructure, arts and culture.

Mohamaddin noted that the tax would not burden Malaysians, as it is only applicable to foreign tourists and not local tourists.

He added that the RM10 tax imposed was a minimum rate, which would not burden foreign tourists.

"To date, there have been no complaints received from foreign tourists over the tax," he added.

The tourism tax, which came into effect on Sept 1 last year, charges a flat rate of RM10 per room per night on foreigners staying in hotels or registered private accommodations.

On July 3, Mohamaddin announced that the Government would review the tourism tax.