KUALA LUMPUR: Langkawi Island is expected to be the first tourist destination to be reopened in a bid to help improve the socio-economic prospects of residents, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourism, arts and culture minister Nancy Shukri said the resort island was the first choice for the tourism sector because of its closed location as an island which made controls easier to manage.
“International airlines also fly to Langkawi, so it is a focused and a concentrated area for the tourism sector for those who have been fully vaccinated,” she told Bernama
She said that Langkawi, the jewel of Kedah, with a population of 119,000 is expected to achieve herd immunity tomorrow (Aug 31).
Nancy said her ministry had initially set a target date of Sept 1 for the reopening of tourism in Langkawi but postponed the date because of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases.
“Langkawi residents have achieved herd immunity, so they are ready but they are now asking for a postponement because Covid-19 cases have risen sharply,” she said.
She added that there was a need for new strategies on tourism in line with current challenges.
“We will set vaccination as the main criteria for travellers,” she said. She hoped tourists would comply with the new rules set for tourism. So, let’s see how the arts and culture tourism sector can help raise the socio-economic conditions of the people,” she said.
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