Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mohammadin Ketapi said the new bill to collect a departure levy from any person who leaves the country is unlikely to affect tourism.
He said other countries had a similar tax as well and it did not have much of an impact on the number of tourists visiting them.
It was reported that the government had proposed to impose a departure levy of RM20 for travellers to Asean countries and RM40 to non-Asean countries.
Anyone who tries to avoid or help others to avoid the departure levy can be fined up to RM1 million or imprisoned for a maximum term of five years or both.
The Departure Levy Bill 2019 is scheduled for a second reading at the current Dewan Rakyat sitting, which will end by April 11.