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Karim lauds ‘no tourism tax for M’sians’ announcement

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KUCHING: Any announcement that said Malaysians are not required to pay tourism tax is good news, said Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. 

He said the announcement made by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in the Dewan Rakyat last Wednesday that Malaysians are exempted from the tourism tax at all hotels is indeed a very good news. 

“This is what we are hoping for from the beginning; we already mentioned that we must meet the industry players first and study the various other countries whether their citizens are taxed or not by this kind of tax,” he said.

 Karim added: “We are thankful to our government and our minister of tourism and culture as now they are sensitive with the people views and announce good news to Malaysians.

 “The tourism tax of RM10 for the foreign tourists who stay in any hotel in Malaysia is a very small token for them if compared to what we, Malaysians need to pay when we are in other countries where the tourism taxes that are so much higher.”

 He hoped that this will be the final decisions as there were changes before this.

 “I also hope that whatever collected through the tourism tax will be divided in good average and use fully to promote tourism,” he said when met by reporters after the press conference on International Sunmit on peace at Hilton hotel, last Wednesday night. 

Meanwhile, in another matter, Karim said that the ministry is also concerned with the rabies epidemic hitting several places in the state. 

“We are concerned on this matter especially when there are tourists asking on whether the spread is an epidemic. 

“So far, it is under control and we hope that we can control the disease from spreading more widely and also will not affect tourism activities,” he said.