The recent passing of the Tourism Tax Bill was met with much concern from various tourism industry players and netizens. Essentially the tourism tax bill imposes a tax that is levied on tourists staying at any accommodation made available by an operator.
Hamzah Rahmat, the president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) was concerned with the impact on local tourism and hoped the government could provide more details. Mr Cheah Swee Hee, the president of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), argued that the tourism tax would create an uneven playing field, driving local and foreign tourists to accomodations such as those offered through Airbnb and unlicensed hotels, which aren’t regulated by the law. And of course, netizens cried foul over the expected increase in prices.
While unlicensed hotels are effectively illegal and should be shut down anyway, Airbnb services are a different kettle of fish.
Hamzah Rahmat, the president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) was concerned with the impact on local tourism and hoped the government could provide more details. Mr Cheah Swee Hee, the president of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), argued that the tourism tax would create an uneven playing field, driving local and foreign tourists to accomodations such as those offered through Airbnb and unlicensed hotels, which aren’t regulated by the law. And of course, netizens cried foul over the expected increase in prices.
While unlicensed hotels are effectively illegal and should be shut down anyway, Airbnb services are a different kettle of fish.