KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Cultural Ministry (Motac) will assess the reopening of Langkawi for foreign tourists from next month before proposing a similar move nationwide, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the ministry would be observing the implementation of the Langkawi international travel bubble for three months before it could be implemented in other tourist sites.
“While we have set a three-month observation period (on Langkawi foreign tourist arrivals), we may reopen other areas earlier, maybe December.
“However, this (reopening of other areas for foreign tourists) is not a guarantee as it would depend on the success (of the pilot project),” she said in reply to a question from M. Karupaiya (PH-Padang Serai).
Nancy said strict Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) compliance would be enforced to prevent any spread of Covid-19 among the locals and tourists.
She said the ministry was in the final phase of its preparations for foreign tourist arrivals from Nov 15.
She said the Langkawi international tourism bubble would be the gauge in considering other potential destinations for foreign tourists based on assessments by the National Security Council and Health Ministry.
The assessment report would then be brought to the Covid-19 management special committee chaired by the prime minister for further consideration.
Earlier, she said Langkawi, which was the pilot project for the domestic travel bubble, saw the arrival of over 100,000 domestic tourists between Sept 15 and Oct 16.
“As interstate travel was allowed (for fully vaccinated individuals from Oct 11), the domestic travel bubble was no longer necessary,” she said in reply to a question from Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis).
Nancy said the revival of tourism activities had a positive impact on not only tour business entities, but also chain sectors that brought improvements to the local community.
Source: New Straits Times
