Langkawi Travel Bubble SOP | Kedah

Langkawi Set To Open To Vaccinated Tourists On September 16th 2021!

News of the Tourism Recovery Plan set to take place in Malaysia has created excited chatter over the past few weeks.

Authorities, including the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, are currently in the final stages of discussion and are working on launching Langkawi as a lead destination. It is said that Langkawi will be reopened to vaccinated tourists commencing 16th September 2021.

Based on current plans, the domestic travel bubble will be established first before reopening international travel borders few months down the road.

The Langkawi Travel Bubble signals the beginning of improving domestic tourism. It will be implemented with much care to guarantee the safety of all travellers.

SOPs For The Langkawi Travel Bubble

To establish a safe and smooth travel bubble in Langkawi, proper SOPs will be lined out and adhered to closely.

Here are some SOPs we know of so far, according to the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture statement on 9 September!

The tourism bubble will be available for fully vaccinated individuals nationwide (except those in EMCO (PKPD) areas) who have received two vaccine doses for at least 14 days.
Children below the age of 18 who are not vaccinated are allowed to travel with fully vaccinated parents.
Tourists will be required to flash their COVID-19 vaccine e-certificate whenever stopped or requested by authorities.
Tourists are encouraged to keep receipts of booking confirmations (e.g., receipts of the hotel, flight, or travel package booking) as proof that they are visiting Langkawi for travel and leisure purposes.
Trips can be made via flight or by land, but those who wish to travel by land will have to book their transportation via a tour agency.
Ferries will be allowed to operate at limited frequencies per day from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis.
Most tourist attractions and activities (except for spas) will be allowed to operate. This includes nature parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, galleries, theme parks, and various activities such as watersports, jungle trekking, hiking, camping, island hopping, and more.
Facilities in hotels and homestays such as swimming pools, gyms, and lounges will also be allowed to open as usual.
Clear SOPs will be lined out to minimise the risk of an outbreak. They must be adhered to strictly by all local operators, including tourists, tour agencies, transport operators, hotels, and more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a severe toll on industries across the globe, hitting destinations that rely heavily on tourism, such as Langkawi hard.

It is hoped that the reopening of Langkawi will help local operators regain their confidence and jobs after a long tourism drought and signify light at the end of the tunnel.