GEORGE TOWN – Two major initiatives to bring back tourists to Langkawi have been shelved due to the inability of their organisers to bring down Covid-19 cases and the coronavirus’ continued spread.
The Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) has confirmed that it will recommend to the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry and the National Security Council to push back the reopening of Langkawi to September 16 in view of the persistent new cases there.
Lada chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Mutalib said in a statement today that the deferment was made after consultation with the state health authorities and tourism stakeholders.
The delay in the reopening would also allow the travel trade community to sharpen their standard operating procedures and ensure that the majority of workers in the leisure sector are fully vaccinated.
It was reported that more than 80% of those registered under MySejahtera on the island resort, which has an estimated population of 119,000, have been fully vaccinated.
Before this, Lada had estimated that the island resort could attract up to 800,000 in the final quarter of this year, but everything now remains uncertain due to the prevailing activity and mutation of the virus.
Previously, tourism authorities had set tomorrow as the reopening date for the sector, with Langkawi earmarked as the first destination to lead the way.
Nasaruddin said that the proactive measures Lada and the health authorities intend to undertake include increased saliva testing, and administering CanSino shots to the remaining unvaccinated.
Penang recorded 1,732 cases today, with many doctors conceding that the virus has seeped into different strata of societies here. – The Vibes, August 31, 2021
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