Malaysia Tourism Tax: Rates, Rules & Hotel Guide

You are planning to visit Malaysia on school holiday? If yes then you should know that if you book a hotel, resort or other accommodation, you may notice an additional charge called Malaysia Tourist Tax or Tourism Tax (TTx) in the bill.

This guide explains how Malaysia Tourist Tax works, who needs to pay it, how much it costs, when you pay and how it differs from SST and other hotel charges.

What Is Malaysia Tourist Tax?

Malaysia Tourist Tax or known as Tourism Tax (TTx) is a tax price that are include when tourists booking at accommodation premises in Malaysia.

This tax is charged based on the room and number of nights but not the number of guest staying in a room.

The current rate of tourist tax is RM10 per room and per night where it is only applicable for non-Malaysian tourists.

How Much Is Malaysia Tourist Tax?

The rate is RM10 per room per night.

Tourism tax is calculated per room per night, not per person per night.

Example 1: One Room for Two Nights

One room × two nights × RM10

Tourism Tax = RM20

Example 2: One Room for Five Nights

One room × five nights × RM10

Tourism Tax = RM50

Example 3: Two Rooms for Three Nights

Two rooms × three nights × RM10

Tourism Tax = RM60

Example 4: Two Rooms for Four Nights

Two rooms × four nights × RM10

Tourism Tax = RM80

When Do You Need to Pay Malaysia Tourist Tax?

This Malaysia tourist tax is normally collected by the accommodation provider but it depends on the hotel itself.

You may:

• Pay Tourism Tax when making your hotel booking
• You can see it separately in your booking breakdown
• You can pay directly to the hotel during check in
• Or you can pay the tax during check out

Malaysia Tourist Tax vs SST

Malaysia Tourist Tax and Sales and Service Tax (SST) are two different things.

Malaysia Tourist Tax is charged when tourist booking an accommodation in Malaysia while SST is a separate Malaysian indirect tax that apply to taxable services.

The current tax rate for SST is 8% where the categories subject to different rates.

Is Tourism Tax the Same as Hotel Tax?

International tourists may have been confuse these terms.

When booking Malaysia accommodation or hotel, you may see the Tourism Tax (TTx) which the rate is RM10 per room and per night.

However, some destinations or hotels might also have other local charges but this is separate from federal Tourism Tax.

Does Tourism Tax Apply to Every Type of Accommodation?

Not every type of accommodation is necessary works on the same way.

The Tourism Tax rules cover taxable accommodation premises, while certain types of outdoor accommodation may be excluded such as camper van sites, caravan sites, boathouses or campsites.

So, if you are staying somewhere outdoor, check whether Tourism Tax applies before booking.

But, if you are staying at the hotel or resort and have book through digital platforms, the Tourism Tax may be applied as Malaysia has introduced for Digital Platform Service Providers (DPSPs) to collect Tourism Tax.

Is Tourism Tax Refundable?

No, the Malaysia Tourist Tax is not refundable because it is a government tax that is collected by the accommodation provider.

But if you shorten your stay or cancel your booking, check directly with your hotel or booking platform about how the Tourism Tax will be handled.

Tourist Tax for Singapore Travellers

For Singaporean that want to visit Malaysia, Tourism Tax is something to notify when book a hotel or accommodation.

Whether you are crossing the Causeway for a weekend in Johor Bahru or flying from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Penang or other places in Malaysia, a hotel is charged for the tax.

So, before paying you may check your booking accommodation to see whether the Tourism Rax is already included in the hotel bills or not.

Do remember that other surchage may also included such as SST, service charges or local fees.