MOTAC Steps Up Tourism Push With Direct Flights To Langkawi

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 5 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) is seeking to increase tourist arrivals to Langkawi through direct flights, following a reduction in ferry services by operators due to higher diesel prices.

MOTAC secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said the West Asia crisis, which began in February, has also affected the country’s tourism sector, leading to a slight drop in tourist arrivals.

In response, he said the ministry has taken various steps, including increasing promotional efforts in countries not affected by the West Asia conflict, such as South Korea, Japan, Australia, China and other ASEAN countries.

He said MOTAC aims to position Langkawi as an international tourism hub by encouraging foreign tourists to fly directly to the island, including from Poland and other destinations currently being explored.

“There has been a slight drop in tourist arrivals due to ticket cancellations from conflict-affected areas, particularly Dubai, but the impact is not significant as relatively few Arab tourists come to Malaysia,” he said.

“In this first quarter, we have not seen much impact… we will have to wait and see how the second quarter goes,” he said at the handover ceremony for the Terengganu Cultural Village project and the conservation, refurbishment and upgrading project of the Terengganu State Museum Board here today.

He said MOTAC is also working closely with the Kedah state government to increase the number of major events and activities to attract more international tourists to Langkawi, noting that equal focus should also be placed on domestic visitors to help revitalise the tourism sector on the resort island.

On April 20, several non-governmental organisations held a peaceful rally with hundreds of participants, calling on the government to intervene and resolve the issue of ferry service rationing, which they said was affecting the daily lives of residents who depend on tourism for their livelihood.

Anak Muda MADANI Kedah chairman Datuk Zuraidi Rahim said the cut in ferry services from five to three trips a day, implemented by operators since March 25, has led to a decline in tourist arrivals to Langkawi.

Zuraidi noted that the government has introduced a targeted bunker fuel surcharge, effective April 20, as a temporary measure to offset rising diesel costs.

As such, he urged ferry operators to restore up to eight daily trips to boost tourist arrivals and ease travel for the public.

-- BERNAMA