LANGKAWI: More than 100,000 visitors have landed on the tourist island here in the past five days despite the stormy weather.
This surge in numbers coincided with the beginning of the school holidays and the long weekend due to Malaysia Day and Maulidur Rasul.
From the total, 67,694 visitors came to the island via ferry; 20,008 visitors arrived by flight and the remaining 13,747 came with their vehicles on roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) vessels.
Konsortium Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd general manager Captain Dr Baharin Baharom said today that the ferry passengers had travelled from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis terminals between Friday and yesterday.
"Based on the data, a total of 11,645 passengers entered the island on Friday, followed by 12,618 visitors on Saturday, 13,986 visitors on Sunday, 15,987 on Monday and 13,458 passengers yesterday.
"The number of visitors travelling from Kuala Perlis terminal is higher as several scheduled ferry trips from Kuala Kedah were cancelled due to bad weather, which triggered waves of up to five metres," he said.
Langkawi Port Sdn Bhd general manager Muhd Nasir Abdul Aziz said 13,747 passengers had arrived at the Tanjung Lembung Wharf via Ro/Ro vessels over the past five days.
"We recorded 1,085 passenger arrivals on Friday, followed by 1,996 on Saturday, 1,367 on Sunday, 1,342 on Monday and 1,200 passengers yesterday, and a total of 3,083 vehicles arriving by Ro/Ro vessels," he said.
Langkawi International Airport (LIA) general manager Che Sulaiman Che Pa said 20,008 passengers, comprising 18,304 domestic and 1,704 international travellers, arrived at the airport during the same period.
"On Friday, we recorded 3,983 domestic visitors and 537 international travellers' arrival via LIA.
"On Saturday, we recorded 3,524 domestic visitors and 308 international travellers arriving. There were 3,662 domestic visitors and 282 international travellers on Sunday, 3,925 domestic visitors and 283 international travellers on Monday, and 3,210 domestic visitors and 194 international travellers at LIA yesterday," he said.
Langkawi district officer Mohamad Subhi Abdullah said all tourism attractions on the island were still operating despite the volatile weather.
"However, we wish to remind visitors to always keep abreast with the latest weather reports issued by relevant agencies, including the Malaysia Meteorological Department and the Drainage and Irrigation Department.
"Tourism product operators are also advised to be vigilant and undertake precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their visitors is safeguarded," he said.