YOURSAY | 'The gov't must realise that the tourist market is a very competitive one.'

Encourage instead of burdening tourists – AirAsia boss disagrees with exit tax

CHKS: I think AirAsia Group Bhd CEO Tony Fernandes is right in saying that Putrajaya should adopt proactive strategies and policies to boost tourism, and not burden tourists further with the departure levy for outbound air passengers.

In this instance, the Pakatan Harapan government seems to be sending the wrong signal for the tourism industry.

Logavel Sundar: Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore also charge an exit tax, but it is camouflaged in air tickets. Fernandes is not making sense as usual.

If we have good tourism products in Malaysia, tourism will soar. So the Tourism and Culture Ministry has to do its part.

As for Malaysians in general, I don’t think many will feel the pinch with this exit tax.

Anonymous #73242862: Exit tax is okay as it only affects those who travel overseas, because people who travel overseas can already afford the exit tax.

IphoneZours: It is silly of Harapan to want to impose a tax on tourism when the number of inbound tourists is on the decline. The government should be looking at ways to spur more arrivals, as tourist dollars are good income for the country.

Look at what our neighbours are doing. They are always innovative with their tourism products and initiatives, thus resulting in higher tourist arrivals and incomes. We are so far behind Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and even Indonesia.

FirstPeoplesRights: @IphoneZours, I totally agree. Why do this at a time of declining tourist numbers?

We already had a tourist tax implemented just over a year ago for hotel bookings. The government must realise that the tourist market is a competitive one, and with tourism rising in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, this negative tax could have a detrimental impact on the numbers visiting Malaysia.

Just look at the numbers of tourists spending in our malls. Without them, many of these malls would decline. Malaysians will end up suffering through fewer facilities and fewer choices, resulting in higher prices.

Look at the big picture, Harapan.

Kahlil Gibran: We already make money from tourism. Why do we need this exit tax?

Is this more nonsense from Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to make up for the shortfall because he removed the GST (goods and services tax)?

Spinnot: Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi says he doesn’t think tourism will be affected “because almost everywhere this kind of levy is implemented… Some countries are collecting it as tax and some are putting it in the form of tickets.”

Can Mohamaddin name these countries or territories, because a quick Internet search only reveals 37 countries that have a similar tax.

Minister: No requests to change, KLIA name to remain

Anonymous 428911434555133: The Transport Ministry has yet to receive any request to rename KLIA despite a leaked letter from a Selangor exco meeting proposing a name change to Sepang International Airport.

Kuala Lumpur or Sepang… who cares what the airport is called? Just make sure the baggage carousels and inter-terminal trains work.

Lodestar: Sooner or later, someone will want to have KLIA renamed the Tun Mahathir Airport.

Ex-WFW: This is a small issue, Harapan. Please look at more relevant issues concerning the transport and logistics problems that have made us less competitive than many other Asean countries.

Apparently, our traffic congestion, which is impacting on both the economy and the environment, is less important than this name change.

It certainly appears that the Transport Ministry under Harapan is doing what it used to do under BN – spending their time on visits to create sister ports which have no immediate bearing on national interests.

Reports are plentiful, but they keep piling up on the shelves. And the ministry will keep proclaiming that it wants to be a regional transport hub, when it doesn't even bother to find out what is ailing our competitive edge.

Perak will not interfere in Songkran celebrations

Lodestar: It is shocking that in multiracial Malaysia, some elements will set their religion above all others, and seek to deny others the joy of celebrating their own specific cultures and traditions under the guise of ‘sensitivity’ – whatever that means.

Who cares about sensitivity? No one is forcing anyone else to participate. As far as I can tell, Songkran is a festival to usher in the Thai New Year, with no religious connotations, so how can the question even arise?

And how can the Perak government give such an obsequious reply – saying that it will “monitor or minimise any matter or element which is sensitive or can spark dissatisfaction” – to what is really a stupid question from the PAS lawmaker?

This shows the danger of the Umno-PAS alliance, which seems to be forcing Harapan to out-Islam PAS by adopting its own stance of religious intolerance.

It also illustrates the danger of letting PAS gain federal power, which could see all public celebrations relating to other religions banned on grounds of ‘sensitivity’. This is exactly what happens in Saudi Arabia.

Steven Ong: Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming’s concerns about the Umno-PAS alliance eventuating in an autocratic state seems valid.

If we don't arrest the spread of fear of the other, then the worst-case scenario outlined by Nga could become a reality, as can be seen with the latest member of the club, Brunei.

Anonymous_3b6c1foc: Why should Muslims be sensitive towards others celebrating their culture and beliefs? This has never been explained.

It seems to me that this Semanggol assemblyperson Razman Zakaria is just fuelling the religious divide.

BTN: I sincerely believe everyone, including here in Malaysia, should stop entertaining people who use religion to make themselves become sensitive to this and that.

By entertaining narrow-minded people, it will only make them become more fanatical. They will have to learn and accept that they cannot continue to be like this at the expense of others.

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