LANGKAWI: Langkawi recorded 2.1 million tourist arrivals up to the third quarter, marking a positive growth trend for the island's tourism sector.
Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) chief executive officer Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid said the island could achieve its target of three million tourist arrivals by year end.
"Langkawi has welcomed 2.1 million domestic and international visitors from January to September, representing about 75 per cent of our target.
"With various initiatives in place, including 22 direct flights from Poland to Langkawi from today until March next year, arrivals are expected to increase," she said at a press conference following a welcoming ceremony for 275 passengers on LOT Polish Airlines' inaugural charter flight from Poland to Langkawi at Langkawi International Airport here today.
Present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general (tourism) Dr Yasmeen Yasim, Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk P. Manoharan and Langkawi district officer Mohamad Subhi Abdullah.
Manoharan said Tourism Malaysia fully supported Lada's collaboration with Polish travel agency Itaka to attract more tourists from Eastern Europe.
"This initiative is expected to positively impact the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, with a target of 26.1 million foreign tourist arrivals and an estimated RM97.6 billion in domestic spending," he said.
"Itaka informed us that some tourists intend to stay for more than a week, with some planning up to two weeks to explore more tourism offerings in the country."