GEORGE TOWN: The collection of hotel room fees in Penang will resume on July 1 after two years of exemption.

       State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the tourism sector in Penang had fully resumed and the state government had carried out various initiatives to help the industry players during the pandemic, including waiving the fees from July 1, 2020.

       "Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the state collected more than RM5mil in hotel room fees annually.

       "With the full resumption of the tourism sector since the reopening of the country's borders and the influx of tourists into the state, the time is right to resume the collection of hotel room fees.

       "Hoteliers in Penang are supportive of the move as well," he said at a press conference here on Wednesday (June 22).

       Yeoh said the collection was an important revenue source as it helps the state with the promotion and marketing of tourism activities.

       "We have decided to resume the collection, I do not think tourists will have any issues with it.

       "The rate remains the same as the pre-pandemic," he said.

       The collection of the fees started in 2014 at RM3 per night for hotels rated four stars and above, and RM2 per night for hotels rated three stars and below including dormitories, budget hotels, hostels and boarding houses.

       It was suspended on July 1, 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and hotels were required to shut during various movement control orders.