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Malaysia Tourism Tax (TTX) 2023: What You Need to Know

In line with the announcement made by the Malaysian government regarding the Tourism Tax , I will talk about a series of questions that are commonly asked by hotel owners or operators, thus helping all of you to find the answers that are related to it. 

1. What is a Tourism Tax?

Tourism Tax (TTx) is referred to as a tax charged for all foreign passport holders at accommodations premises collected by the operators effective from 1st September 2017 in Malaysia. It is charged at a fixed rate of RM10.00 per room per night.  However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Malaysian Government has announced the exemption of the Tourism Tax for all foreign passport holders for hotel stays between 1st March 2020 and 31st December 2021 then further extends to 31st December 2022.  Now, the Malaysian government has announced that the Tourism Tax will resume back starting from 1st January 2023. 

2. How is the RM10 per room per night applied?

Assuming one room is booked for one night by John (who is a Filipino), the TTx charged to John will be RM10.00 x 1 room x 1 night = RM10.00  In the 2nd Scenario, assuming two rooms were booked by Dianne (who is an Indonesian) for three nights, so the TTx charged to Dianne will be RM10.00 x 2  rooms x 3 nights = RM60.00 

3. How is this new to the travel industry starting January 2023?

Since September 2017, a guest who is a foreigner is subject to paying Tourism Tax when staying at any “accommodation premises” in Malaysia; this tax is collected by the operator at the accommodation premises upon check-in, regardless if the booking was made online or walk-in. However, starting from 1st January 2023. For any bookings made through digital platforms that provide reservation services such as booking.com, Agoda, and Expedia, the platform is the one to collect the Tourism Tax directly from the foreign guests when the guest made the booking and payment online through the platform. The digital platform provider shall remit the tax collected to the RMCD. Whereas, for booking that was made online through the platform but payment only upon arrival at the accommodation premises, the TTx shall be collected by the accommodation operator upon guest arrival. The responsibility of remitting the tax collected for this booking shall be by the accommodation operator instead.

We have just received the update that currently, only AGODA will collect the TTx directly from the guest together with the room charges if they made the payment online. Whereas, for other OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com & Traveloka, the TTx will be collected upon check-in by the property operator, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 

4. What if the booking has been made before 1st January 2023 for the check-in date after on or 1st January 2023? 

If a foreign traveller has made a booking on a digital platform before 1st  January 2023, for check-in on or after 1st of January 2023, the Tourism Tax must be collected by the accommodation operator upon guest arrival and the accommodation operator is required to remit the tax to the RMCD.

5. What if my property did not register for TTx? 

We advise you to further consult with your business advisor or check with RMCD if you have not registered as a Tourism Tax registrant. Generally, if you are operating accommodation premises of 5 rooms or more, you are liable to be registered.  You may also check this website https://www.myttx.customs.gov.my/ to further understand the registration. 

6. If a Malaysian with his foreign friend both check into the same room and the booking was made and paid by the Malaysian, is TTx chargeable? 

In this case, it is not subject to Tourism Tax because a local stayed and paid for the stay. However, the Tourism Tax is chargeable in the event that the foreigner stays and pays for the stay.

7. If the reservation has been made with full payment together with the TTx for the booking made via OTAs, then the guest request for the cancellation on a non-refundable policy, will the TTx will be refunded?

Unfortunately, we are unsure of this. Do let us know in the comment section if you have more information regarding this. What I can say is, you may refer to the T&C directly from the OTAs. 

8. Will TTx subject to SST too? 

No. The operator is not allowed to charge SST on the Tourism Tax. 

9.  Is day use chargeable to TTx?

No, if the day use charge is not equal to the room rate per night.

10. Is a Digital Platform provider compulsory to collect private data such as passport no. or ID no. to ensure nationality?

Yes. The Digital Platform provider should make an appropriate adjustment in its system to capture the information that is to identify the citizenship of the tourists.

11. John makes an accommodation booking online and provides inaccurate information which resulted in TTx not being collec ted. Who wi ll be responsible? 

If due diligence has been done to obtain the information required from the tourists, the Digital Platform provider will not be responsible for any inaccurate information provided by the tourist, which may result in the under-collection of TTx. 

Check out this video where we answer a frequently asked question regarding the Tourism Tax

That’s all 11 common questions that we heard so far regarding the Malaysia Tourism Tax. Please share this article if you find it useful and drop any questions in the comment sections if you think there are more questions that should be answered. 

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Malaysia Tourism Tax: What You Need to Know in 2024

Updated on : May 2nd, 2024

The Malaysian Tourism Tax Bill was passed in the Senate on 27 April 2017 and t he TTx has been in effect since 1 September 2017. All accommodation providers have to collect TTx from tourists staying at their premises. The tax at a rate of MYR10 per room, per night has been required to be collected by the accommodation operator and then paid to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD).

The ambit of the law has been significantly widened under the new amendments which were effective from Jan 1, 2023 and now any digital platform whether located in Malaysia or outside Malaysia, on providing services relating to online booking of accommodation in Malaysia shall be liable to be registered for Tourism Tax in Malaysia.

What is the Tourism Tax in Malaysia?

The Tourism Tax in Malaysia, also known as TTx, is a tax charged for all foreign passport holders staying at accommodation premises in Malaysia.  It is collected by the operators of these premises and is charged at a fixed rate of RM10.00 per room per night.

Malaysian nationals and permanent residents are excluded from the tax

Who is responsible for collecting and remitting tourism tax in Malaysia?

As per the  policy update issued by the Malaysian government, the responsibility for charging, collecting, accounting, and remitting tourism lies on Digital Platform Service Providers (DPSPs) like Agoda and Booking.com for all online bookings, irrespective of whether the DPSP or the hotel operator receives the payment. 

The hotel operators are liable to collect and remit TTx only for offline bookings

However, the policy has granted a grace period from 1 April 2023 TO 31 December 2025. During the grace period, the policy eases the compliance burden on DPSPs based on the booking and payment nature. Here's how it works:

• If a booking is made online, but payment goes directly to the hotel operator: The responsibility for collecting and remitting TTx falls on the operator.
• If both booking and payment are done online through the DPSP: Only, then does the responsibility to collect and remit tourism tax lie with the DPSP.

Who has to pay Tourism Tax?

The tourism tax is a consumption-based tax.  Foreign tourists staying at accommodation premises in Malaysia are ultimately liable to bear the burden of Tourism tax in Malaysia. However, it is collected by the accommodation operation or digital platform service provider (DPSP) and remitted to the government on behalf of the tourist. 

How to Pay?

• Tourists, upon payment to DPSPs (Digital Platform Service Providers) submit proof of TTx payment. In cases where proof is provided, registered operators are relieved from collecting TTx directly from tourists. However, if tourists fail to provide proof, DPSPs must collect the TTx amount and account for it to the RMCD.
• From 2023, DPSPs that facilitate the online booking of accommodations in Malaysia (“online travel platform operators e.g. Airbnb, OYO, etc.”) to collect tourism tax (TTx) and remit the tax to the RMCD.
• The deposit of Tourism tax in Malaysia is completely digital using their customer website MyTTx.

Key Highlights:

• MyTTx is an online submission and payment system for tourism tax (TTx).
• It is available 24 hours daily and accessible anywhere.
• The system can be accessed through any latest browser and is best viewed at 1024 x 768 resolution or higher.

When to Pay?

• Operators have to file a return every three months to account for the tourism tax (“TTX”) received. Note: If the operator is GST registered, the operator must file a tourism tax return in the same taxable period in which the operator files his/her GST returns (i.e. monthly or quarterly).
• The deadline to make payments of tax is clarified by stating that payment is due “not later than” the last day of the month following the end of each taxable period.

Benefits of  Malaysian Tourism Tax

Tourism Tax comes with several advantages that contribute to the sustainable development of the tourism industry and the overall growth of local economy.

• Revenue Generation: The primary purpose of the Tourism Tax is to generate revenue for the Government to develop and enhance tourism-related infrastructure and services. This includes the development of tourist attractions, accommodation facilities, transportation networks, and other amenities that enhance the overall visitor experience.
• Promotion of Tourism: The funds from the Tourism Tax can be allocated to marketing and promotional activities aimed at attracting more tourists to Malaysia. This helps in boosting the country's image as a desirable tourist destination on a global scale.
• Cultural Preservation: Tourism Tax revenue can be invested in projects aimed at preserving and promoting Malaysia's rich cultural heritage. This may involve the restoration of historical sites, supporting traditional arts and crafts, and organizing cultural events that showcase the country's diverse cultural tapestry.
• Job Creation: A thriving tourism industry leads to increased demand for services, creating job opportunities across various sectors. The revenue generated from the Tourism Tax indirectly contributes to employment generation, benefiting local communities and individuals.
• Balance Over Tourism:   The tax is becoming popular as a tool to battle the pressing issue of over-tourism in countries where both, indigenous nature and culture is at risk.  It allows the government to monitor and manage the tourism sector effectively, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations set to maintain the industry's integrity.

TTx is here to stay

As Malaysia continues to position itself as a premier tourist destination, the Tourism Tax plays a pivotal role in sustaining its ecosystem. Navigating TTx is a necessity for a primarily tourist driver economy. It needs involvement of all stakeholders DPSPs, tourists, and the RMCD to make the system better and smoother every day.

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Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs

Home > Partner Help > Your reservations > Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs

Last updated: 10 months ago | 8 min read time

Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs (CN)/简体中文

Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs (HK)/中文 (香港)

Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs (TW)/繁體中文

Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs Japanese/日本語

Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs Korean /한국어(대한민국)

Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs Thai/ไทย

Malaysian Tourism Tax FAQs (MY)/Malay

This article will explain the Malaysian Tourism Tax and answer FAQs.

• Effective 1st Jan 2023 – 31 Dec 2025, Digital Platform Service Providers (DPSPs or Platform) are liable to collect and charge TTx from any tourists for reservations that are i) made through the DPSP’s platform and ii) where payment is made to a DPSP (such as Agoda) and remit such TTx to the Malaysian Customs Department. If payment of TTx has been made to the platform, then the accommodation premises should not collect the TTx again, provided proof of payment of TTx can be furnished; otherwise the accommodation premises shall collect TTx. For bookings where payment is made to accommodation premises in Malaysia directly (pay at property), it is the accommodation premise’s obligation as a registered operator to collect and remit TTx to Malaysian Customs Department.
• Starting on 1 Jan 2026, the government may choose to alter or continue with these rules.
• For more information, please visit myttx.customs.gov.my .
• a) Malaysian nationals (holders of a MyKad card)
• b) Permanent residents of Malaysia (holders of a MyPR card).
• If the property is listed and booked as one unit, then the Tourism Tax of RM10/room/night will be imposed to the unit only, so for 1 night, the applicable TTx = RM 10.
• If the property is listed on platform as three separate units (one bedroom per listing), then TTx shall be imposed on each of the rooms. So, if three rooms are booked for 1 night, the TTx would be RM 10/room/night x 3= RM 30.
• Q: Will this affect existing bookings, especially for Pay at Hotel existing bookings? A: Guests who are tourists have been subject to pay TTx since September 2017 when staying at any accommodation premises in Malaysia; this is normally collected by the operator i.e. accommodation premises operator. However, starting from 1 Jan 2023 and continuing until 31 Dec 2025, bookings made through platforms providing reservation services such as Agoda are liable to collect and charge TTx for any bookings made on the platform in which the platform collects the payment from bookers. If a traveler has made a booking on Agoda before 1 Jan 2023, and where TTx is applicable, the TTx must be collected by the property and remitted to the RMCD. For bookings of Malaysian properties made on Agoda on and after 1 Jan 2023 and continuing until 31 Dec 2025, Agoda as the platform is required to collect TTx if the payment for the booking is collected by Agoda. Agoda will endeavor to collect TTx on most bookings and issue a document as proof of TTx payment to the booker. However, for Pay Property bookings, TTx needs to be collected by the property from the booked guest at check-in.
• If the payment model “Pay to Agoda”, “Merchant Commission” and TTx applies – TTx is INCLUDED in the price and is collected by Agoda.
• If the payment model is “Pay to Agoda”, “Merchant Commission” and TTx doesn’t apply — TTx is NOT collected.
• If the payment model is “Pay at Hotel” and TTx applies — Malaysia Tourism Tax is INCLUDED in the price and collected by the property.
• If the payment model is “Pay at Hotel” and TTx doesn’t apply — Malaysia Tourism Tax is NOT collected.
• Q: How do I verify that TTx has been collected by Agoda? A: Agoda will issue to bookers proof of TTx collection (if collected by Agoda), unless TTx needs to be collected by the property as explained above.
• Q: My property did not register for Tourism Tax, does this apply to me? A: To determine whether you should be registered for TTx or not, please consult your business advisor or seek RMCD’s further guidance. The exemption from TTx for certain property types (Item 3, Tourism Tax Exemption Order 2017) e.g. homestay/kampungstay operator, operator with 4 accommodation rooms or less, does not apply when the reservation is made through a DPSP’s platform. Even if you are exempt from TTx, TTx would still be applicable when a booking of your property is made on Agoda by a qualified tourist.
• Q: If a tourist books accommodation through Agoda then subsequently extends their stay directly with the accommodation premise operator, who is liable to collect the TTx for the additional stay period? A: For tourists who book accommodation through a platform and extend their stay, the accommodation premise operator will collect any TTx for the additional stay. Platforms such as Agoda should not be liable to collect the TTx for the additional stay period, unless the additional stay period is booked using the online platform. Source: GUIDE ON TOURISM TAX (DIGITAL PLATFORM SERVICE PROVIDER) as of 13 Aug 2021.
• Q: If I have other questions on the Malaysian Tourism Tax, who should I contact? A: Please contact our Accommodation Service Team via the Need Help? button in YCS.
• Q: In case of a dispute by a customer, what should I do and who should I contact? A: Please contact our Accommodation Service Team via the Need Help? button in YCS.
• Q: Upon check in, I found that the guest is a foreign tourist, but the booking was made by a local. In this case, what should I do? Should I collect the tax and remit to RMCD? A: Yes. You should collect the applicable TTx in such case and remit to RMCD.
• Q: Is the guest still entitled to a TTx refund if the booking is non-refundable, but it is a no-show? A: TTx will in all cases be refunded to the booker if the stay at the premise does not take place. For more specific cases see below:
• If a full refund is triggered (cancellation on refundable booking) => Agoda refunds the entire amount. TTx will be refunded in full.
• If a booking is cancelled with 100% charge (cancellation on non-refundable booking) => Agoda keeps the original amount not related to TTx. Payment to the property should not be affected. However, TTx should be refunded to the booker.
• If a booking is cancelled with partial charges=> TTx will be refunded to the booker.
• If the booking is amended => Applicable tourism tax will be recalculated based on the new room nights of the amended booking. The amendment voucher should indicate the new value of tourism tax that has been paid.

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Tourism Tax Policy and Amendments to Service Tax Policy

• Home ›
• Insights ›

Useful resources

• MyTTx Portal – TTx Policy No. 1/2021
• MySST Portal – Service Tax Policy

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (“RMCD”) has uploaded a Tourism Tax Policy to recap the exemption of Tourism Tax announced by the Government earlier as well as amendments to two Service Tax Policies on its official portal.  Please click on the above header links for a copy each of the policies. 

Set out below are the salient points:- 

Tourism Tax Policy No. 1/2021

• The exemption of Tourism Tax for the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 has been further extended until 31 December 2021. 
• Accommodation operators are still liable to submit TTx-03 Return to account and pay the Tourism Tax received from foreign tourists for accommodation provided before the exemption period or any Tourism Tax where payment has not been received from tourists within twelve calendar months that become due in the taxable period. 
• The amount of Tourism Tax exempted must be stated in Column 7 of the TTx-03 Return i.e. the amount exempted for each night per room. 
• During the exemption period, Tourism Tax should be recorded as “exempt” or “NIL” or “RM0.00” in the invoice issued to foreign tourists. 

Amendment (No.2) to Service Tax Policy No. 9/2020

• Registered accommodation premise operators are exempted from charging Service Tax from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021.
• Service Tax is exempted for services occurring on 31 December 2021 and ending 1 January 2022. 

Amendment to Service Tax Policy No. 2/2019

• Subject to meeting conditions, Service Tax exemption on imported taxable services for companies in Labuan effective 1 September 2019 is now extended to 31 December 2021. 

Our highlights are intended to provide a general overview of the key proposed tax changes and should not be used or relied upon as a substitute for detailed advice or as a basis for formulating business decisions.

Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to email or contact any of our Executive Directors, Directors, Associate Directors or Managers whom you are accustomed to dealing with or who are responsible for the tax affairs of your organization.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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5,000 Malaysia hotels start collecting tourism tax of RM10 per room per night from foreigners

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Some 5,000 hotels around Malaysia have started implementing the tourism tax for foreigners.

Foreign tourists are charged a flat rate of RM10 (S$3.20) per night per room, while local tourists and permanent residents are exempted from paying the tax.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) President Sam Cheah Swee Hee said hotel operators started the collection of tourism tax on Friday (Sept 1).

"Not all hotel operators are ready. We will do it manually until the system is ready," he said.

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 Director-General Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy.

"We will not be harsh as the announcement of the tax came a little late," he added.

The government announced early last month that the tourism tax was to be enforced from Friday.

Subromaniam said the department will try to contact hotel operators who have yet to register, rather than using a harsh approach. The number of registered accommodation providers so far is 5,000, out of the estimated 10,000 establishments nationwide.

"We are giving hotel operators another month. We expect all to register with us by the end of September," he added.

Bernama reported that hoteliers must display the newly introduced Tourism Tax rate separately from the room rates with the implementation of the tax.

Malaysian Association of Hotels (Sarawak Chapter) Honorary Secretary-General John Teo Peng Yew said hotel and resort operators need to adhere to the new ruling following a meeting with the Finance Ministry and the Customs Department recently.

"No exemption for long stay, complimentary stay such as timeshare or loyalty programme and such tax shall be free of GST," he said in a statement here.

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KINIGUIDE | The planned introduction of Tourism Tax on top of the existing six percent goods and services tax (GST) has raised concerns from local industry players and stakeholders.

Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Aziz had from day one defended the move which was introduced with the passing of the Tourism Tax Bill 2017 in the last Parliament session.

In the process, he got into a war of words with a state minister who argued for the deferment of the tax in Sarawak and Sabah, arguing on grounds of the states’ autonomy.

Some parties also insisted that the new tax had caught stakeholders by surprise, prompting Nazri to promise extra incentives to cushion its effects.

Malaysiakini takes a closer look at the debates surrounding the issue.

What is the Tourism Tax?

In simple terms, the Tourism Tax is an additional charge imposed on customers for hotel rooms.

The addition is on top of the existing 10 percent service charge and six percent GST set on room rates.

The Royal Malaysian Customs had said that the Tourism Tax charge will be based on the rating of the accommodation - from five star to unrated.

How much more will a guest have to pay?

The Royal Malaysian Customs listed the taxation rate as follows:

1. Five star: RM20 per room per night 2. Four star: RM10 per room per night 3. One to three star: RM5 per room per night 4. One to three orchids: RM2.50 per room per night 5. Unrated: RM2.50 per room per night

Hold on. How did the 'orchids' come into the picture?

Aside from the internationally recognised star system for hotel rooms, the Tourism and Culture Ministry has also introduced the orchid rating as a classification system for budget accommodation premises which do not meet the requirements of the Star Classification Scheme.

What is the number of rooms we are looking at?

The latest data available from the MyTourismData portal of the Tourism Malaysia website stated that there are 4,799 hotels and 304,721 rooms in the country as of 2015.

The figure would be exponentially larger taking into account the mushrooming of Airbnb concept rooms and homestays.

Nazri had recently said that Airbnb premises with six rooms and more will be required to charge the Tourism Tax.

When is the tax supposed to be implemented?

In short, Aug 1. But there were some confusions on this matter.

In what appears to be the first announcement after the Tourism Tax Bill 2017 was passed, the Royal Customs Department in a circular dated June 6 had said the tax will come into effect on Aug 1.

A local Chinese-daily, however, reported on June 7 that the decision was retracted because the Tourism Tax Bill had supposedly yet to be signed by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V and hence hasn’t been gazetted.

Nazri later said this was not true.

Instead, he said obtaining the Agong’s signature to gazette a new law was only a formality and the government will stick to its original plan which was to start tax collection on July 1.

Since then, Nazri had on June 27 reportedly said that the launch of the Tourism Tax will be deferred to Aug 1, as the government was not yet ready to implement it.

Who will have to pay?

The initial announcement was that the Tourism Tax will be imposed on all guests at all hotel rooms.

Following the outcry, it was however announced that exemptions will be given to all Malaysians staying in hotel rooms below four stars.

All international tourists will still be subjected to the tax.

Aren't the GST and service charge enough? Why the need for more taxes?

Again, in short, the Tourism and Culture Ministry has been subjected to annual federal budget cuts and could benefit from added revenue in the form of additional charges.

In winding up his debate for the Tourism Tax Bill, Nazri had said revenue from the tax would be in the region of RM654.62 million if the overall occupancy rate for the 11 million "room night" (a unit used in the hospitality industry) in the country can achieve 60 percent.

The amount can go as high as RM872.82 million if the occupancy rate reaches 80 percent, he had said.

What will the funds be used for?

According to Nazri, most of it will go towards promoting the tourism industry through Tourism Malaysia.

At a press conference on Thursday, he explained at length on how the Tourism Malaysia annual budget has been slashed to RM110 million, down from RM200 million a decade two decades ago.

Over the past three years, he also cited examples of how promotional funds had affected the number of tourist arrivals to Malaysia.

How many tourists are we looking at exactly?

According to the MyTourismData portal, the figure peaked in 2014 with 27.4 million tourist arrivals and dropped to 25.72 million tourists in 2015.

Nazri had said Tourism Malaysia was working on a RM190 million budget in 2014 but the amount was slashed for 2015.

Last year saw 26.7 million tourists arrivals and the government has set a target of 31.8 million tourists arrivals for this year.

Have all the issues been resolved now?

It was reported on June 5 that the state governments of Sarawak and Sabah have reached a common stand to defer the Tourism Tax until a mechanism on its implementation is achieved.

Among issues discussed include the portion of the tax collection should be shared equally between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

It was also previously reported that prime minister Najib Abdul Razak had met with Sarawak chief minister Abang Johari Openg to discuss the matter.

Is that all?

Nazri had also confirmed that establishments, agencies, and associations with valid contracts involving accommodation fees will be exempted the Tourism Tax until the end of their contracts.

He said the cut-off date for the tax exemption will be on April 1, 2018, as most of these contracts end on March 31.

All new contracts signed after April 1 will have to include the Tourism Tax charge.

This KiniGuide was compiled by Alyaa Alhadjri

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Tourism Tax (TTX) and Local Government Fee

The Malaysian Government has reinstated the Tourism Tax (TTX) of RM10.00 per room per night for all foreign passport holders for hotel stays effective from 1st January 2023. Malaysian nationals and permanent residents of Malaysia will continue to enjoy exemptions from Tourism tax, under Exemption Orders.

With effect on 1st July 2022, Local Government Fee (Penang) of RM3 will be charged per room per night. The fee is not included in the room rate and is payable at the reception desk upon check-in.

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Global tourism made a strong recovery in the first half of 2022, with tourist arrivals nearly tripling between January and July compared to the same period globally, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Around 474 million tourists travelled internationally during this time, up from 175 million in the same months of 2021, marking an almost 60% recovery from pre-pandemic levels.

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Here’s What You Need To Know About The New Tourism Tax

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Not too long ago, Malaysians woke up to the fact that come August 1 this year, they’ll have to pay more when putting up a night at a hotel. Enter, the Tourism Tax (TTx).

Like all tax-related matters, the move was greeted with mixed reactions. Singaporeans are unfazed, confident that the stronger Singaporean dollar would mitigate the introduction of the new tourism tax .

Some Malaysians, however, are not as optimistic. In a report, CIMB Research said TTx could hurt hotel owners while the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) believed the country’s World Competitiveness rankings will be severely affected , citing the tax’s untimely entry into the tourism market.

The good news is Malaysians are exempted from the tax but foreign tourists will have to pay a flat rate of RM10 per night. So here’s what you need to know about the tax:

Breaking it down

When the Dewan Rakyat approved the Tourism Tax Bill 2017, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the tax collected would be in the region of RM654.62 million if the overall occupancy rate for the 11 million “room night” in the country would achieve 60%.

What is room night?

Room night, or room/night, is a measure of occupancy where a room is the unit of measure.

This is opposed to bed/night occupancy, where one calculates the number of beds in the entire hotel (a room can have more than one) against the nights each of them are booked.

For example:

A hotel has 10 rooms each with 2 beds. If 5 separate people book 5 rooms for all 30 days in the month of June, the hotel has a room occupancy or room/night occupancy of 50% for April.

But there are 20 beds spread out over these 10 rooms. If these same 5 single and separate people booked the 5 rooms for all of April, the bed/night occupancy would be only 25%, because 5 beds were used out of a possible 20 for June.

Source: Djaunter

Nazri believes that with proper promotion and 80% occupancy rate, RM872.82 million can be collected which could provide a sustainable fund every year to develop the tourism industry and make it more competitive.

According to an early Customs Department circular, the tax is charged at a specific rat, based on hotel ratings. But the government decided to scrap that and announced a flat fee of RM10 a night. Here’s how this differs from the other charges imposed at hotel rooms nationwide:

And, here’s the list of properties exempted from the tax:

• Homestays registered with Ministry Of Tourism and Culture (Motac);
• “Kampungstays” registered with Motac;
• Accommodation premises established and maintained by religious institutions not for commercial purpose; or
• Accommodation premises with less than 10 rooms.
• Accommodation premises operated by the federal government, state government or statutory body for training, educational or accommodation not for commercial purposes.

Credit: Customs Department

So how do we go about this?

So as this affects foreign tourists, let’s see how this affects them. Based on the list above, one caveat about the tax is that it exempts Airbnb properties. So, let’s say you are planning a one-night stay in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, for two people.

Here’s how much you are expected to pay for a 3-star hotel versus an Airbnb unit:

If you stay for a 4-day, 3-night stay, you would be incurring RM745.92 for a short vacation in Penang. Before TTx, the amount would have been RM30 cheaper.

On the other hand, with Airbnb you save RM235.92! But – there’s always a “but” here – before jumping onto the Airbnb website, weigh the pros and cons.

Sometimes Airbnb hosts may not support a self-check-in option, which can lead to a pretty hectic experience. Then, there’s the hassle of getting in touch with your host and dealing with potentially annoyed neighbours, especially if you arrive late at night.

Even parking can be a pain, where in some cases, the owner might allow you to park in his or her slot, but your car will still get clamped due to it being an unregistered vehicle.

Also, not forgetting, a lot of properties do not welcome Airbnb guests. In many residential neighbourhoods, you’ll be greeted with a “No Airbnb Allowed” signage. That can lead to an uncomfortable experience.

As for hotels, though it might be pricier, you can easily check in at any time of the day, you get free breakfast and room service/housekeeping services. For hotels, the service has to be on par with the hotel rating as these forms of accommodation are regulated while Airbnb and the likes aren’t.

Sometimes, depending on the nature of your stay, a hotel spells convenience and that can make or break your getaway or trip.

It’s all about planning

TTx is here to stay. The good part about the tax is that it is a fixed rate, so regardless of your hotel ranking, you only pay a flat fee. The bad part is just the extra fee, on top of all the other surcharges you are expected to pay.

If you are foreign tourist, what you can do to dampen the effects of the tax is to simply plan your vacation better. If you want something a little cheaper, go with Airbnb or a homestay as these are exempted.

If you want comfort and ease of mind, then a hotel is what you need and you’ll just have to pay the tourism tax.

Either way, the important travel axiom stays: you get what you pay for. Happy budgeting!

*This article was updated to reflect the current changes to the Tourism Tax. Earlier, the tax stipulated that everyone, including Malaysians, would need to pay a fixed rate according to hotel rankings. But the Tourism Ministry has revealed that only foreign tourists will be charged a flat rate at hotels nationwide. 

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Dear Valued Guests, following the announcement of the Malaysia Tourism Tax Act 2017, a tourism tax will be imposed by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. The tax shall be taking effect on 1st September 2017 onwards. Please find below our hotel’s official announcement with regards to the tax and an infographic for your easy understanding. For more information and the latest updates, please visit the following link:  http://www.myttx.customs.gov.my/CTTAX/index.html

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