Motac moots opening Langkawi to foreign tourists

KUALA LUMPUR – The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) is proposing to the National Security Council (NSC) that Langkawi be opened to tourists from selected countries under the ongoing tourism bubble pilot project.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, told the Dewan Negara the move would help revive the economy badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I suggest that we open (the borders) to (tourists from) certain countries to Langkawi first, under the Langkawi pilot project.

“This is one of the ways we can revive our economy,” she said in reply to Senator Ahmad Yahaya, who wanted to know whether the government plans to open the borders for tourists, especially from Asean countries.

Earlier, Nancy said between September 16 and October 12, 85,921 people had travelled to Langkawi through the tourism bubble, and based on feedback from the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), the average hotel occupancy rate on the island in the first week of this month was 45% at four- and five-star accommodations and 21% for accommodation in three-star hotels and below. – Bernama, October 14, 2021