INDUSTRY PLAYERS WELCOME MOTAC'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO REOPEN LANGKAWI TO DOMESTIC TOURISTS

PETALING JAYA, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN), the industry-led establishment under the purview of Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) welcomes the announcement by YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to open Langkawi Island as pilot for domestic tourists. Uzaidi Udanis, TPN Champion, who is also the President for Malaysia Tourism Inbound Association (MITA) and Malaysia Tourism Council (MTC) said, “The industry players especially those in Langkawi Island and travel agencies are delighted with the announcement from the Minister. Of course, we hope to see more destinations to reopen, yet let us see first how Langkawi Travel Bubble fares”. “I urge my friends in the industry to take this opportunity. However, it is important for us to adhere to the SOP. TPN itself too has Certificate of Compliance COVID-19 Adopt and Adhere Guidelines to supplement the existing SOP. We have to balance the reopening of the tourism activities with the general well-being and health of the public. Vaccination and SOP compliance are keys. I urge as well the tourism friends in Langkawi to ensure that your products and services are ready. This is our part in the bargain. Now that the government is reopening destinations by stages, our responsibility is to ensure that we are ready to receive tourists”. Said Uzaidi in statement after a webinar organised by TPN on 9 September 2021, where TEKUN Nasional shared with nearly 100 tourism industry players on the financing schemes available for the tourism industry players to restart their business. Dato’ Abdul Latif Haji Abu Seman, MPC Director General, believes that Langkawi Travel Bubble will spur the productivity growth of the tourism industry in the island, “The pilot initiative in Langkawi is essential to see how best the tourism industry can recover. Lessons from Langkawi can be adapted to other destinations. I congratulate Minister YB Hajah Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri for taking this step to restart the industry. It is a calculative but a necessary move – where health and economy aspects need to be balanced”. The pilot project for Langkawi Travel Bubble comes with a set of standard operating procedures, among others, travel to Langkawi is only for those who have completed 2 doses of vaccine, and visitors must show evidence of purchase such as for flight and ferry tickets, hotel receipts, or tour package receipts when applying for the permission letter from PDRM or requested by authority. Domestic tourists are allowed to travel to Langkawi from 16 September 2021. For more information regarding TPN’s Adopt and Adhere COVID-19 SOP Guidelines, visit www.wayup.my/gppac19. About Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). MPC promotes productivity, quality and competitiveness to the industries and organisations in Malaysia. MPC's vision is to be the leading organisation in productivity enhancement for global competitiveness and innovation. About Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN) Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN) is a one-stop centre that caters to enterprises to boost productivity while increasing innovation and capturing growth opportunities. The Nexus’ initiatives emphasise the development of a holistic ecosystem in order to increase technology adoption and further strengthen key industry enablers.

Released by MALAYSIA PRODUCTIVITY CORPORATION SOURCE : Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC)