The government will review the need to retain the tourism tax to ensure it doesn’t affect tourist arrivals to the country, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi.

He said the flat rate of RM10 per room per night charged on foreign tourists needed to be reviewed to determine whether it was reasonable or too high.

"Yes, (we will review) because we want to attract tourists. If we set the tax too high, people will not want to visit the country, but if we impose a moderate tax or an acceptable tax, more people will come," he said today during his first press conference as a minister in Putrajaya.

The tourism tax came into effect on Sept 1, 2017. Foreign tourists staying in hotels or registered private accommodation are charged a flat rate of RM10 per room per night.

Meanwhile, Mohamaddin, who is also Silam MP, said the ministry would be organising a competition to design a new logo for the Visit Malaysia Year campaign.

Mohamaddin said he would seek Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's input on whether Visit Malaysia should be held in 2020 or if another year should be chosen for the campaign.

Mohamaddin is among the 13 ministers and 23 deputy ministers who took their oath of office, allegiance and secrecy before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V, at Istana Negara yesterday.

– Bernama