The government has decided that the tourism tax will be enforced from Sept 1, said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday.

He said local tourists and permanent residents would be exempted from paying the tourism tax. With the tax, he said foreign tourists boarding at premises including hotels, inns, rest houses and motels would be charged a RM10 flat rate per room per night.

He said the tax was exempted for homestays which have been registered under the ministry and premises operated by the federal and state governments or statutory bodies for education, training or welfare purposes only.

"The exemption is also for premises which have been registered to provide accommodation for religious activities but not for commercial purposes, as well as premises with four rooms or less" he said at a news conference here yesterday.

Mohamed Nazri added that the tax was expected to generate RM210 million in revenue every year.

For the purpose of implementing the tax, accommodation premises operators must register online at www.myttx.customs.gov.my