Malaysia Inbound Tourism Association president Mint Leong said disruptions at key global transit hubs are affecting international travel flows to the island.
“We need quick solutions. The government should not reduce the tourism budget but instead increase it. More promotion is needed to reassure global travellers and promote alternative transit routes,” she told FMT.
Leong said many long-haul travellers to the island destination, particularly from the US, previously relied on transit hubs in the Middle East, which have been affected by the ongoing Iran war.
She said destinations such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi traditionally offered strong connectivity and convenience, but current disruptions have forced travellers to reconsider their plans.
“Previously, travellers could transit through these hubs easily. Now, they have to look at alternatives like Hong Kong or Singapore, and some may choose to postpone their trips altogether.
“This is not just about confidence in Malaysia, but overall travel confidence. When people feel uncertain, they delay travel and as a result, we lose traffic,” she added.
Leong said Malaysia should work with countries such as China and India to develop alternative transit points to improve access to Langkawi.
Separately, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) played down the reduced ferry services to Langkawi in light of the surge in industrial diesel prices.
Matta president Nigel Wong said international tourists make up the bulk of Langkawi’s tourism numbers, and most of them arrive at the island by air.
“At the moment, most of the tourism for Langkawi is serviced primarily by flights. So at this point, the impact on the ferry arrivals remains uncertain.”
However, Wong cautioned that rising diesel costs could have a broader ripple effect across the tourism ecosystem, as ferry operators, buses and vans may be forced to increase fares, potentially impacting budget-conscious travellers.
He called for temporary subsidies for transport operators and incentives to encourage domestic tourism, including economic stimulus packages which previously supported tourism businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Kedah chapter of the Malaysian Association of Hotels shared the same concerns, warning that higher travel costs and reduced ferry frequency could deter middle-income travellers in particular.
Its chairman, Eugene Dass, said hotels are already experiencing cancellations from long-haul markets, adding that rising costs may further dampen domestic travel to Langkawi.
He proposed tax relief of up to RM1,000 for domestic travel, along with incentives for transport providers and more government-backed events to support local tourism businesses.
Last month, Bernama reported that ferry service operators would cut down the number of trips to the island from five to three a day after the Aidilfitri holidays.