THE Langkawi Municipal Council will be imposing a levy on domestic and foreign tourists starting July 1.
Known as the Langkawi Tourism Promotion Levy, the fee will range between one ringgit (US$0.25) and nine ringgit for each day of stay, depending on the traveller’s accomodation type.
Tourists staying in one- and two-orchid (star) rated accommodations will be charged one ringgit per room per night; three ringgit for three- and four-star hotels; five ringgit for five-star accommodations; seven ringgit for six-star accommodations; and nine ringgit for seven-star accommodations.
When asked to explain what was meant by six- and seven-star accommodations when the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia classify hotels only up to five-star, Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid, Kedah state tourism committee chairman, said: “In the future, there may be.”
He added that the funds collected would reduce Langkawi Municipal Council’s dependency on funding from the state government to carry out projects. Plans are for the levy to go towards beautification works on Langkawi island.
“If you go to Phi Phi Island, there is a tourist charge. Penang has also imposed a bed tax. These are all income to carry out projects for the further enhancement of tourism,” he explained.
However, the levy has ruffled some feathers. Ally Bhoonee, executive director of World Avenues, said: “I am not against the levy but communication of this new levy is very sketchy. Who is responsible for informing the international travel community? Is it the Langkawi Development Authority?
“Right now I have to inform agents for every new booking which is a lot of work for us. If we forget to include this information, we can be threatened with lawsuits, even though the amount is small. The authorities should have planned way in advance and made announcements last year in lieu of this impending levy.”
