GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM HOTELS
Malaysian Association of Hotels to survey 1,000 premises on tax implementation
THE Malaysian Association of Hotels will begin a survey involving 1,000 hotels to gather feedback on the implementation of tourism tax.
Its president, Sam Cheah Swee Hee, said the online survey, which starts tomorrow, was aimed at finding out the challenges faced by hoteliers in implementing the new policy.
“After we find out about the issues they are facing, we will offer assistance to iron out the problems.
“The survey requires hoteliers to state what kind of assistance they need to strengthen the implementation of the policy,” he told the New Straits Times.
Cheah said the survey would take three days to complete and the results would be available by next week.
“For those who had offered contracted rates to their guests, they can make an application to the Tourism Ministry for consideration.”
Hoteliers had no issues on the implementation of the tourism tax.
Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur general manager Jane Suppiah said the tax implementation had been smooth.
“Upon confirmation, we notify guests in advance that when bookings are made, there will be additional charges for the tax.
“We have not received any complaints.
“I am sure there will be minor problems in sorting out the nationalities of the guests, but there has been no major problems,” she said.
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral marketing and communication manager Laurine Pereira said the hotel had taken measures, such as notifying its guests on the tax implementation and sending out letters to guests.
“There have been no complaints from our guests on the tax implementation and upon guests’ arrival, we verbally inform them of the new policy.
“Notices are also put up at the front desk and in the rooms,” she said.
Customs Department director general Datuk T. Subromaniam said 5,000 accommodation pre-mises had registered with the department for the tax implementation.
“We are expecting another 3,000 hotels to register by the end of the month before we begin enforcement.
“But after the deadline, those who fail to implement the tax will need to pay with their own money, which will result in losses,” he added.
A flat rate of RM10 will be charged on foreign tourists per night, per room, while Malaysians are exempted from the tax.
Hotels with five rooms or more will need to implement the tax regardless of their star ratings.
Hotel operators, as well as a number of state governments, had resisted the move following the announcement of the government’s plan to introduce the system a few months ago, claiming that the tax would diminish business for hotels and local tourism.
Proceeds from the tax would be channelled to the tourism industry, focusing on promotion efforts.