MATTA releases GST tax guide for agents
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has rolled out a guide to implementing the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the travel industry.
The Navigator for Travel Industry manual is targeted at tour and travel agents to help explain the numerous different rates of taxation.
"Travel agents find the adoption process very challenging because each product – ranging from outbound tours to domestic flight tickets to international cruises – are given different GST treatment," said MATTA president Hamzah Rahmat.
The 229-page manual has been created by MATTA inbound vice-president Datuk Tan Kok Liang and a team of accountants specifically for tourism businesses.
"Tan realised that what was needed was a detailed and hands-on presentation specifically for the tourism industry, rather than just relying on the overview provided by the Customs Department," said Hamzah.
"MATTA will continue working with Malaysia Royal Customs to ensure that the requirements of the GST are translated into a process that can be easily understood so that our members can submit proper reports," he added.
"MATTA is the first association to come up with a GST manual. We hope other industries will follow. We need cooperation from the private sector to help ease the teething problems faced in implementing the GST," said Customs Department GST director Datuk T. Subromaniam.
The GST was implemented last month for travel goods and services and involve a complex set of rules for the industry.
Products which are standard rated, zero rated and tax exempt can be grouped in a single tour package, MATTA said.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025