Planning to stay in 5-star hotel in Malaysia? Prepare to fork out additional $6.50 per night come August

Come Aug 1, Malaysia wall implement a new Tourism Tax (TTx), the Customs Department has announced on its website. 

Operators of accommodation are to register their business starting from Jul 1, reports New Straits Times. 

The tax which is regulated by the Finance Ministry and the Customs Department, will be imposed at a specific rate on tourists staying  at any accommodation premises provided by registered operators. 

The tax rate is fixed at RM20 (S$6.50) each room, per night in a five-star hotel, RM10 (S$3.30) for a room in a four-star hotel and RM5 (S$1.70) for  a one-star, two-star or three-star hotel. 

RM2.50 (S$0.90) will be charged to each room per night for accommodation premises rated at one-Orchid, two-Orchid, and three-Orchids, as well as those which are non-rated. 

Accommodation premises are defined as buildings held wholly or partly by proprietors, owners or managers.

These include hostels, hotels, inns, boarding-houses, rest houses and lodging houses. 

Tourist accommodation premises are accommodations which have been registered by the Commissioner under subsection 31C (1) Tourism Industry Act 1992.

The announcement added that the tax will be implemented utilising a system of cooperation between government and the businesses, and is done so to ‘enhance tourism experience for tourists’. 

The tax returns will be used in the development of the tourist industry, mainly enhancing infrastructures and facilities, as well as tourism promotional activities and campaigns. 

Premises which are registered with Ministry of Tourism and Culture as ‘homestay’ or ‘kampung stay’  will be exempted from the tax.

These premises must also be established and maintained by religious institutions, have less than 10 rooms and cannot be for commercial purposes. 

In addition, accommodation premises operated by the Federal Government, State Government or statutory body used of training, educating and accommodation which are not for commercial purpose are also exempted.