Tourism tax: S'wak govt wants direct distribution
Published on: Friday, June 23, 2017
PETRA JAYA: The Sarawak Government has accepted the implementation of the new tourism tax, which will be enforced beginning next month.State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the decision was made after the matter was deliberated during the State Cabinet meeting here Thursday.Karim said Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg (pic), however, wished that collection from the new tax from hotels in Sarawak would be distributed directly to the State Government and not via other agencies.
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"During today's meeting, Chief Minister said he has raised his concerns on the implementation of the tourism tax to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi."The Prime Minister, however, has given his assurance that collection from the new tax would be distributed to three regions, namely Sarawak, Sabah and the peninsula," he told reporters at his office in Wisma Baitul Makmur here Thursday.State Tourism Ministry Permanent Secretary Dato Ik Pahon Joyik, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), was also present.Karim said the State Government also welcomed the plan by the Federal Government to exempt locals staying at hotels rated three star and below from the tax.
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He was referring to a statement made by Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who had said that the Government will look into exempting locals, staying at three-star hotels and below, from paying the tax.The tax rate, which will be imposed beginning July 1, has been fixed at RM2.50 per room per night for non-rated accommodations, RM5 (one-, two- and three-star hotels), RM10 (four-star) and RM20 (five-star).
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