LANGKAWI: Langkawi is ready to become Malaysia's gateway for foreign tourists under the proposed international tourism bubble pilot project.
Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Mutallib said the agency had discussed the proposal with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and the National Security Council (NSC).
"We have proposed for Langkawi to be made a gateway for the country under the international tourism bubble pilot project.
"For example, foreign tourists may stay in Langkawi for several days before travelling to other destinations in this country.
"We have put forward the proposal with the ministry and NSC council recently, we are waiting for their feedback," he told reporters during dinner here yesterday (Friday).
Nasaruddin was responding to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri's recent announcement that the ministry had proposed to NSC to reopen Langkawi for tourists from selected countries under the tourism bubble pilot project.
He added that LADA had also proposed to NSC that a Covid-19 screening for inbound foreign tourists to be done at the respective hotels they are staying, instead of the Langkawi International Airport in Padang Mat Sirat here to avoid congestion.
"We believe there is a possibility for foreign tourists to be required to carry out PCR test 72 hours prior to their departure to Langkawi.
"They may also be subjected to undergo another round of PCR test upon arrival in Langkawi
to avoid congestion at the Langkawi International Airport, we are discussing with the ministry and NSC to allow the screening to be carried out at hotels where they stay.
"If they are tested positive, they will be have to be placed under quarantine at designated hotels and for those who passed the swab test, they may proceed with their vacation here," he said.
Meanwhile, Nasaruddin said LADA was confident that domestic visitors arrival in Langkawi to hit 100,000 people this month, far exceeding an initial projection of 60,000 visitors.
"As of the middle of October, we have recorded over 51,400 visitors arrival and we are confident that by end of this month, the number could reach 100,000.
"This is based on the number of flight bookings to Langkawi until end of October and the steady rise of visitors arriving via ferries following the reopening of the states' borders," he said.
As of now, he said there were three ferry trips from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi daily and two trips from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi, adding that the number would further increase in line with higher volume of tourist arrivals.
"Overwhelming tourist arrivals is just one of the success stories of Langkawi tourism bubble, as the other resounding success is the ability to prevent the emergence of Covid-19 tourism clusters in Langkawi since the island was reopened to visitors.
"Since Sept 16, there is no report of Covid-19 transmission from local residents to visitors and among the visitors to Langkawi, we are very grateful with the achievements," added Nasaruddin.
On the Health Ministry's decision to discontinue mandatory Covid-19 screening beginning Tuesday, which was enforced under the Langkawi travel bubble pilot project last month, Nasaruddin said LADA encouraged domestic visitors to carry out self-tests before travelling to Langkawi.