KUALA LUMPUR, The government collected RM308.33 million in tourism tax from 2018 to 2022, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. He said that out of this amount, RM135.49 million was collected in 2018, with a distribution of RM67.74 million to state governments, while RM134.94 million was received in 2019, with a distribution of RM67.47 million to state governments. In addition, RM37.90 million was collected in the first half of 2020, with a distribution of RM18.95 million to state governments. 'However, the collection of tourism tax was suspended from July 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2022 due to the closure of the tourism sector caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Tax collection resumed on Jan 1, 2023,' he told the Dewan Negara today. Tiong was responding to Senator Datuk Mohd Hisamudin Yahaya who asked about the total amount of tourism tax collected so far and how it is being used. Revenue from tourism tax is distributed to the Federal and state governments, and can only be spent on the scope related to the development of tourism, arts, and culture sectors, said the minister. This includes the maintenance and provision of tourism facilities, buildings, and heritage sites; the promotion and marketing of tourist destinations; improvements in the compilation of tourism, arts, and culture statistics; and initiatives for the digitalisation of tourism, arts, and culture products. Source: BERNAMA News Agency