ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government today welcomed the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry's (MOTAC) proposal to open Langkawi to tourists from selected countries under the ongoing tourism bubble pilot project.
State Tourism, Arts and Culture committee chairman Mohd Firdaus Ahmad said a plan to open a massive Covid-19 screening facility for inbound tourists from abroad is also in the pipeline as part of the preparations.
"We had a discussion with MOTAC Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri several days ago on the proposal to reopen Langkawi to foreign tourists under the tourism bubble pilot project.
"The state government plans to open a Covid-19 screening facility at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre next to the Langkawi International Airport, which can screen up to 300 inbound travellers from overseas," he told the New Straits Times.
Firdaus said the proposed Covid-19 screening facility, a collaboration between the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and a private company, would be set up should health screening be made mandatory for foreign tourists.
"If the federal government decides that it is mandatory for inbound foreign travellers to undergo Covid-19 screening upon arrival in Langkawi and before leaving the island, we will be ready," he said.
Firdaus added that tourism operators in Langkawi were eager to welcome back foreign visitors to the tourism island, which has been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak since early last year.
"The reopening of Langkawi to foreign tourists will be a huge boost to our efforts in reviving the state tourism sector and economy.
"This will be greatly complement the overwhelming response from domestic travellers to Langkawi with the reinstatement of interstate travel since Monday, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently," he said.
Firdaus was commenting on Nancy's reply in the Dewan Negara today on Langkawi's tourism bubble pilot project during the question and answer session.
In her reply to a question from Senator Ahmad Yahaya, Nancy said MOTAC has proposed to the National Security Council to open Langkawi to tourists from selected countries under the tourism bubble pilot project.
She also informed the Dewan Rakyat that Langkawi has received almost 90,000 visitors within the first 27 days of the domestic travel bubble programme which began on Sept 16.