SEMPORNA, June 10 — The tourism and culture ministry needs to ensure the collection mechanism of the new tourism tax which will be applied at registered accommodation premises is in order, proper and transparent.
Sabah Finance Assistant Minister Datuk Ramlee Marahaban, who voiced concern over the matter said the premises as the new tax collection agencies should be transparent so that the government would garner high income from it and later benefit the people.
He spoke to reporters after handing over Ramadan aid to about 700 residents of Kampung Bangau-Bangau and Kampung Air here today.
Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was reported as saying that the tourism tax, set to see rates of between RM2.50 and RM20 charged for a night’s stay, would be enforced as scheduled on July 1.
He said the tax, which would be applied at registered hotels and inns would be able to bring an income of about RM654.62 million if there was a 60 per cent occupancy rate at over 11 million hotel rooms in the country.
Ramlee, who is also Bugaya assemblyman suggested to the ministry and related agencies to organise road-shows to explain the new tax. — Bernama
