LANGKAWI – It may be an inconvenience for tourists, but mandatory Covid-19 testing for all visitors entering the resort island from today is set to remain until the pandemic subsides.
Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri yesterday described the policy imposed in line with the reopening of Langkawi’s tourism sector as a necessary step to safeguard residents and outsiders alike.
Following last-minute consultations with the Health Ministry in the wake of some confusion about the move, it is deemed to be the best step to allow the reopening of tourism amid the threat of a pandemic, she said.
Langkawi still has about 800 active cases although close to 90% of the islanders are fully vaccinated in a campaign that began three months ago.
She said that tourists just need to undergo one of the various testing modes available within 48 hours before their slated departure to Langkawi either by ferry or air.
If they are positive, they must defer the proposed trip to another date after undergoing the necessary quarantine of 14 days.
Tourists can also conduct their own screening through self-test kits, which are fixed for sale at RM19.90 in selected outlets and pharmacies in the country.
“We need to be careful because we do not want Langkawi to become a cluster and be forced to shut down tourism there again,” she said at a press conference here yesterday.
“Langkawi is a pilot project that the entire industry (nationwide) is looking at as a model to revive the leisure industry.”
She said that she was informed by medical specialists that those who are fully vaccinated tend to mostly suffer mild symptoms if they are infected by breakthrough variants, hence the move to allow tourism to reopen here.
Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor, who was present at a dinner hosted by the Langkawi Development Authority to mark the reopening yesterday, said Covid-19 tests are offered on a complimentary basis for visitors entering Langkawi today.
In the following days, the tourists should be able to bear the costs. However, the government may step in to subsidise the costs for exceptional cases, he added.
Sanusi and Nancy were present at the international airport in Padang Matsirat here to greet the first batch of tourists flying in at 9.30am today.
Altogether, 19 flights are scheduled to arrive today, bringing in tourists from the Klang Valley, Penang and Ipoh.
Nancy also visited various places of interests and tourism sites here to ensure that operators comply strictly with standard operating procedures. – The Vibes, September 16, 2021
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