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Guys, Be Prepared To Pay Extra For Hotels Starting From August Onwards
Cuti-cuti Malaysia is about to get a little bit more expensive.
Starting August of this year, tourists will have to pay a little bit extra for hotel rooms if they want to spend their holidays in Malaysia.
The new tourism tax will reportedly take effect on 1 August, according to details published on the Royal Malaysian Customs Department's website.
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The taxation rate will reportedly be based on the rating of a hotel, which means that customers will have to pay up to RM20 more a night for rooms at a five-star hotel.
The tax will reportedly be collected from all types of premises used as accomodation for tourists, whether it is a five-star hotel or a budget hostel.
However, homestay and Kampung Stay rooms registered under the ministry, as well as premises with less than 10 rooms, are exempted from the tax.
Now, here's the bad news: Malaysians need to pay this tourism tax thing too.Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz told Malaysiakini in a news report that if a person goes to a hotel in Malaysia for the purpose of leisure or business, they will have to pay the tax.
Oh, and this is on top of the the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and service charge you will still need to pay. FML!
Mohamed Nazri also told the news portal that the government is set to collect up to RM654 million from these taxes, providing that the accomodation occupancy rate is 60 per cent.
Here's the taxation rate:
- Five star hotels: RM20 per room per night
- Four star hotels: RM10 per room per night
- One to three star hotels: RM5 per room per night
- One to three orchid hotels: RM2.50 per room per night
- Unrated: RM2.50 per room per night
Malaysia will not be the first country in the world to impose the tourism tax though. Several countries in Europe such as Spain, Portugal and Italy have been charging its tourists up to €7 (RM33.68) per person per day.
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