SUBANG JAYA – August 2, 2019: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has failed in a bid to delay the implementation of the departure levy which will be imposed on airline passengers leaving the country starting next month due to decision by the Cabinet.
A circular announcing the implementation has been issued today, with implementation to start on September 1.
The levy, which was initially scheduled to be imposed last June 1, has generated a buzz among lawmakers and tourism industry players as they believe it will have a negative effect on tourism.
Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi was against the levy and had early last month said he would appeal to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to have it delayed until at least after the end of the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign.
Federation of Asean Travel Associations executive director Datuk Hamzah Rahmat said last month that there will be a drop in tourist arrivals once the levy is imposed.
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Malaysia’s departure levy |
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Flying to Asean countries |
Flying to other countries |
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Economy class |
Non-economy class |
Economy class |
Non-economy class |
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RM8 |
RM50 |
RM20 |
RM150 |
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Exemptions |
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· Babies and toddlers <24 months-old · Passenger on transit flight through Malaysia (transit time <12 hours · Crew on duty (aircraft, vessels) · Drivers/ riders/ pillion riders/ passengers of personal-use vehicles (including aircraft, vessels) |
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