5,000 hotels in Malaysia have started collecting tourism tax

Some 5,000 hotels around the Malaysia have started implementing the tourism tax for foreigners.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) president Sam Cheah Swee Hee said hotel operators started the collection of tourism tax last Friday.

“Not all hotel operators are ready. We will do it manually until the system is ready,” he said when contacted.

Cheah said hoteliers will submit their collection to the Customs and Excise Department by next month.

The Customs and Excise Department is taking a friendly approach to encourage hotels and lodging operators to register for the tourism tax, said Department director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy.

“We will not be harsh as the announcement of the tax came a little late,” he said when contacted.

The Government had announced early last month that the tourism tax was to be enforced from yesterday.