MALACCA, MALAYSIA: In a move to provide the best public facilities for visitors to the Historical City, the state government is considering imposing a RM2 ($0.80) tax on all guests staying in hotels here.
However, before this could be done, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said it would have to study the Local Government Act and see if there was a clause to allow for it.
"The money collected would be for the benefit of the visitors as we would use the funds to build amenities such as more public toilets, plant more trees to provide shade, and hire more staff to ensure cleanliness.
"We want to ensure visitors to the state enjoy first class public facilities and services and this is why we have mooted this idea," he said, after visiting the Durian Tunggal Dam, here, yesterday.
Ali said that with the hotel occupancy rate in the state hitting the two million mark monthly, the state would be able to make RM4 million if it was able to impose the RM2 tax on every hotel guest.
"The state's legal adviser is looking into the matter now and we will be able to table the findings in the next executive council meeting.
"If everything goes well, we could implement this in the next one or two months."
In a related matter, Ali called on all hotel operators, amusement park operators and restaurant owners to offer a free drink to their customers on July 7, to usher in the one-year anniversary of the World Heritage City status.
"It could be like a welcome drink and to thank the visitors for their support.
"I also call on Malaccans to don their traditional costumes on July 7 as it would make the atmosphere merrier.
"The state leaders and I would also wear our traditional costumes on that day," he said.
On the current dry spell in the state, Ali assured Malaccans that water supply would not be affected as water was now being pumped in from the Muar river to ensure ample supply.
"We have enough water stored at a few storage facilities in the state," he said.
