Langkawi Turning Into A Tourist Bubble

The government is considering turning Langkawi into a pilot project on the tourist bubble before the country is reopened by former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

On Sunday (15 August), Muhyiddin declared that the pilot project in Langkawi is extremely important because it would determine the future of the tourism industry in the country and that more economic sectors will be reopened throughout all phases of the national recovery plan, with both conditions and benefits for those vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health and health professionals have suggested that Langkawi should be a tourist bubble when the population on the Island is at 80%. “Only individuals who have completed their 2 doses of vaccination will be allowed to visit Langkawi,” said Muhyiddin.

Arrival SOPs

The SOPs for the arrival of Domestic and International Tourists have also been laid out for further references and the benefit of many. For Domestic Travelers, the SOP is divided into 6 Parts.

SOP for Domestic Travelers:

Firstly, you have the Pre Travel Procedures. You are required to produce your digital vaccination certificate with the 14-day grace period post-vaccination as proof that you have received both your doses of vaccine. This also includes the non-vaccinated dependants who are below 18 years old from the same household.

Travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is strongly recommended. After that, you will be required to receive a travel permit from PDRM with proof of travel itineraries + a digital certificate. During the travel, travelers must make sure that they adhere to the SOPs according to the mode of transportation during their entire journey to Langkawi.

Upon arrival at Langkawi, travelers must check in with their MySejahtera app and do a temperature check. This is part of verification at the entry point by related agencies. Following their entry, tourists must make sure that the accommodation that they have booked in Langkawi is an MY SAFE-certified accommodation.

Contactless check-in at the respective hotel or cruise will be done and tourists must also do a temperature check on a daily basis during their stay in Langkawi.

Tourists are allowed to roam around the island as long as they adhere to the strict SOPs set. Before departure, it will be a contactless check out yet again and tourists must adhere to the SOPs according to the mode of transportation upon return journey.

SOP for International – Charter Travelers:

For International – Charter travelers, the SOPs are slightly different and have a more strict setup. The SOPs are divided into 6 parts of the travel bubble stages as well.

Firstly, you have the Pre Travel Procedures. Please make sure that you have purchased your travel package from a travel agent inclusive of a tour guide assigned to you who is licensed by MOTAC and has insurance coverage for Covid-19. Tourists are also required to do an RT-PCR test 72 hours prior to traveling. This is also inclusive for dependents who are not vaccinated.

Following that, tourists will have to produce their e-vaccination certificate for double doses or -ve RT-PCR test results for non-vaccinated dependents who are from the same household.

During the travel, travelers must make sure that they adhere to the SOPs according to the mode of transportation during their entire journey to Langkawi. Upon arrival at Langkawi, travelers must check in with their MySejahtera app and do a temperature check.

A compulsory swab test will also be done (RT-PCR / RTK Antigen). If found positive, travelers have to proceed for isolation and further treatment.

Isolation Period + Highly Orchestrated Travel Itenary (5 Days)

If travelers tested positive, they have to go through an isolation period. Contactless check-in at the respective hotel/cruise/ yacht will be done and travelers will only be allowed to use and enjoy limited facilities. After that, travelers will be starting their highly orchestrated travel itinerary which should be pre-purchased.

Travelers must also take the RT-PCR Test at day 5 of their isolation period. If they are tested negative, travelers are allowed to start a travel itinerary on day 6. If travelers are tested positive, they will have to continue their isolation period and receive treatment. Tourists are allowed to roam around the island as long as they adhere to the strict SOPs set.

Before departure, it will be a contactless check out yet again and tourists must adhere to the SOPs according to the mode of transportation upon return journey.

With strict SOPs being set for travelers, the Langkawi Tourism Recovery Plan will be intact and highly monitored. This is to ensure that tourism will resume safely adhering to the current pandemic situation.

Travelers can start being excited about Langkawi reopening as there are numerous promotions being held in conjunction with the reopening of Langkawi!

Here are some of the promotions included:

a) Virtual Expo 2021 (27th – 29th August 2021)
b) Naturally Langkawi Online Contest featuring #throwbacks, short stories and etc. (1st August – 31st December 2021)
c) Collaboration with Lazada
d) Langkawi Great Sales (1st Oct – 31st Dec 2021)
e) Series of domestic and international webinars collaborating with TM.

In line with these promotions, a unique travel conformity certificate named My Safe Langkawi has been presented by the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada), aimed at regulating standard operations processes (SOPs).

MySafe Langkawi Certification Programme

Under its Mysafe Langkawi programme, six travel trades, hotel, food and beverage establishments, homestay, retail, travel agencies, and product operators, will receive accreditation. The concept of MySafe Langkawi is to set a standard for the operation of tourism-related businesses. This will also help to prevent the outbreak of the Covid-19 as well as promote Langkawi being a safe holiday and travel destination.

Lada chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Muttalib said that the certificate is approved by the Tourism Academy, the National Security Council, the Police, the district office, the Municipal Council, the Civil defence Force, the Ministry of Health, and the Tourism of Malaysia.

The certificate issue terms and conditions include two doses of vaccination for all workers before they begin to work. In addition, at least one staff must complete the risk assessment certificate Covid-19 organized by the Langkawi Tourism Association in each office or travel agency. The six segments that come under this programme are Hotels and Resorts, Lodging Facilities, Food & Beverage Outlets, Travel and Tours, Tourism Products, and Retail Outlets.

My Safe Langkawi T&Cs

1. The My Safe Langkawi is a certification to boost the confidence of tourists to safely choose Langkawi as a holiday destination without having to worry about safety.

2. The certification is completely free of charge and it is on a voluntary basis.

3. Applications are done online where related documents can be downloaded from LADA’s official website.

4. Applications can be done from 23rd August onwards.

5. Owners and operators of tourism-related businesses must first perform self-audit before submitting the application.

6. At least one staff member from each of the establishments must attend the CERIA Course (Certificate in COVID-19 SOP & Risk Management which will be held on the 23rd, 25th, and the 27th of August.

Paradise 101 is one of the first exclusive resorts to be certified with the My Safe Langkawi certification. Paradise 101 can be visited safely and tourists can be accommodated in a clean and perfectly harmless environment. Tourists can also enjoy the water sports activities and other fun activities with Paradise 101 with complete peace of mind and zero fear!

All staff is vaccinated and the resort also adheres to all the SOPs very strictly. Staff have also attended the CERIA course attentively and are well aware of all Covid-19 SOPs.

We always prioritize the safety of our guests/customers, and in these uncertain times, this is no different. That’s why we are practicing and enforcing best practices for social distancing and self-isolation in the midst of COVID-19.

As you may know, our business has been allowed to re-open. We will be opening our business from 14th September 2021. To start with, we will have the below operation hours:

Sundays to Thursday (10:00 AM to 6 PM) &
Fridays to Saturdays (10:00 AM to 8:00 PM) in order to allow overnight deep-clean and sanitation.

The CERIA Course (COVID 19 Education & Risk Management Course) is a course that is designed to provide exposure and knowledge on SOP Covid-19 related to the tourism industry issued by MKN. This will also help us in planning activities towards the readiness of the premises in compliance with the relevant Covid-19 SOPs. The course will also aid meet the pre -requisites for the My Safe Langkawi certification application,

This training is part of the Langkawi Recovery Plan for Tourism, which Lada initiated in July.
800 participants, from July to now, all participated in courses in over six batches, will participate in the certification effort.

Langkawi is anticipated to welcome tourists starting next month. He also added that SOPs ensure everyone is connected to the MySejahtera app, temperature controls are available and practitioners can be reached in the vicinity.

He hopes that everyone is fully committed to the strategy because, if tourism is permitted to operate again next month, it may instill vital confidence in the market. With all these lined up SOPs, compulsory certification programmes, and the cooperation of every sector, Langkawi will be reopening very soon for travelers.

Hurray!