Over 10,000 ‘bubble tourists’ herald soaring hopes for Langkawi’s post-Covid-19 revival 

LANGKAWI – The Malaysian holiday island of Langkawi recorded 10,216 foreign tourist arrivals, generating up to RM50 million in tourism receipts from the international tourism bubble created following global vaccinations against Covid-19.

The bubble concept has now ended with the reopening of the borders at the beginning of this month.

It ran from last December until March, whereby visitors who wanted to visit Malaysia were allowed to do so if they stayed in Langkawi for at least five days before they were allowed to visit other parts of the country.

Among the conditions for this was that the visitor needed to undergo regular testing for the virus as stipulated, with negative results.

Langkawi Development Authority chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Muttalib said that the figure was encouraging enough for the agency to be optimistic of higher arrivals towards the end of this year.

The United Nations World Travel Council had earlier forecast that global tourism can only fully recover by 2024 due to the huge impact that the pandemic has brought about.

According to Nasaruddin, Langkawi has revised its arrival expectations to 2.5 million visitors by year’s end, and they are expected to generate receipts of up to RM3.2 billion.

“We are optimistic of attaining this figure because, by this June, several countries in the northern hemisphere and the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will experience summer,” he said.

He was speaking after opening a tourism information centre at Pantai Cenang here by yachting services provider Tropical Charters Sdn Bhd. 

Also present was Tropical Charters CEO Datuk Alexander Isaac, who is also deputy president of the Langkawi Businesses Association deputy president.

Nasaruddin praised the setting up of the centre, as it can serve as a one-stop centre to inform tourists on the various types of attractions available here.

He also called on the setting up of a smart partnership between the private and public sectors to cultivate new ideas to promote tourism here.

“This approach should be highlighted. Various parties need to create new ideas and creative actions to rejuvenate tourism,” said Nasaruddin. – The Vibes, April 19, 2022