LANGKAWI – Tourism players here have welcomed the government’s move to lift the Covid-19 testing requirement for visitors to the island.
Langkawi Business Association deputy president Datuk Alexander Isaac told The Vibes that he is in favour of measures that will boost the economy, including the said move that took effect yesterday.
“Since state borders were reopened, there has been no rule enforced for those undertaking interstate travel to get tested, and if people still need to get tested to enter Langkawi, it becomes a disadvantage in terms of competition.
“At the same time, I strongly suggest that people conduct self-testing before coming. They can continue to self-test while they are here, because this is the right response to the pandemic.
“Remember the slogan ‘kita jaga kita’? That is what we really need to observe now. We cannot rely on the government to instruct us on what to do.
At the end of the day, I encourage everyone to perform self-testing and follow the SOPs despite testing no longer being a requirement. It is our responsibility to keep ourselves and the people around us safe.”
He requested that the Health Ministry conduct a bigger awareness campaign on self-testing and put in place a RM10 price cap on test kits.
Many companies and product owners in Langkawi are having their employees, regarded as economic frontliners, carry out self-testing.
Business development consultant Vin Sen Chin, who is based here, shared similar sentiments, saying the lifting of the Covid-19 testing requirement makes little difference as only fully vaccinated tourists are allowed in Langkawi.
He also cited the insignificant number of infections detected in tests undertaken prior to travel.
“Many locals, who initially feared the sudden influx of visitors when infections were much higher before, are now more at ease, based on the current situation in Langkawi.
“However, in terms of groups travelling to Langkawi, among those I know or do coordination for, people are still cautious, and many are not looking to holiday so quickly.
“The travel pattern of those who do come has also changed. Many are now choosing more ‘comprehensive’ hotels to just stay in rather than ‘roam around’.
“And, yacht cruise bookings lean more heavily on private charters for their own groups instead of sharing with strangers.”
Malaysia Association of Hotels’ Kedah and Perlis chapter chairman Eugene Dass said it may be too soon to do away with the testing requirement for Langkawi as the risk of infection remains, and should there be cases, the island could shut down again.
It applies to other tourism islands as well. If this requirement is extended for just another month, more people will be ready and better prepared when it comes to safety when travelling.
“If there is no testing requirement, I believe there must be a system where everyone who enters must be checked to determine whether they are fully vaccinated, especially those who arrive via ferry.
“You cannot expect hotels to check if the 600 to 700 people who enter these hotels are fully vaccinated. It is very difficult because there are loopholes, especially for beachside hotels.
“Everyone must play their role to keep everyone safe. Customers, the authorities and the receiving parties, like hotels and tourist sites, have to play their part.
“There shouldn’t be the washing of hands and playing the blame game between tourism players, like saying ‘Oh, when you are at my attraction, you are safe, but I don’t know what happens after that’.”
The Health Ministry decided to lift the testing requirement for visitors to Langkawi after it was found that the percentage who received a positive result stood at only 0.4%, or 216 people of the 54,341 who got screened from September 16 to October 11.
The government had made testing compulsory when the holiday destination reopened on September 16 under the travel bubble programme. – The Vibes, October 13, 2021
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