Yay to ‘feel good’ fee waiver
Penang hotels welcome six-month exemption to woo tourists
GEORGE TOWN: Although it is just a few ringgit, the six-month hotel fee waiver in Penang will give a “feel good” impression to travellers.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chairman Khoo Boo Lim hailed the waiver as a pleasant gesture of appreciation for domestic tourists calling on the state.
“Although the amount is not much, it can have a good psychological effect on domestic tourists,” said Khoo.
He was commenting on the state’s decision not to collect the local government fee from guests checking into hotels for six months starting from July.
The move, he added, would help the efforts by all stakeholders in the state to revive the tourism industry.
Khoo also called on Malaysians to take advantage of the superb promotions and discounts being offered by all hotels in Penang.
He, however, warned the public to use the right channel when making hotel bookings – either with reliable booking agents or directly with the hotel.
The local government fee, also called the hotel fee, has been imposed since 2014.
It is fixed at RM3 per night for hotels rated four stars and above and RM2 per night for hotels rated three stars and below.
“The decision was made after the Federal Government lifted the ban on interstate travel. This is the state administration’s effort to rebuild the tourism industry and support a rebound in the industry.
“Along with the waiver of tourism tax at the federal level, we hope this will help to spur interest in activating the industry and support the tourism recovery effort,” said state tourism committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin in a statement.
Yeoh said the six-month waiver was part of a plan – along with various promotional efforts and upcoming tourism activities – that would be introduced in stages to attract domestic tourists until the end of the year.