Govt to standardise regulations, taxes for hotels, Airbnb - Mustapa

Tourism Malaysia Published 3 years ago on 16 September 2020 | Author TIN Media
MELAKA :

Standardization of many issues relating to the hotel and Airbnb, such as legislation and taxation will soon be finalised, said Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Prime Minister's Department (Economy).

He said that the change was to provide the tourism industry with new lease of life, especially for hoteliers that suffer more from the COVID 19 pandemic, given that they are more subject to regulations than Airbnb operators.

It is also part of the government's efforts to help revive the tourism sector towards restoring the country’s economy, he added.

He claimed that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of the Local Government, and the government were engaged in discussions on the subject. The Chief Government Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali was chaired by a committee to answer the questions.

"In business, we have the concept of 'level playing field' meaning we have to be fair to all. So if one component is subject to various rules, while another sector is not, of course, this is not fair," he told a media conference after dinner and discussion with stakeholders of the tourism industry in Bandar Hilir 

Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, State Secretary Datuk Seri Hasim Hasan, and State Tourism, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Jailani Khamis.

The state had asked for RM100 million for the construction of cable cars and RM25 million for the maintenance of several tourist destinations, citing Melaka as one example.