LANGKAWI: The enchanting island of Langkawi is experiencing a tourism resurgence, attracting thousands of holidaymakers since the commencement of the school holidays. Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) revealed that during the initial week of school holidays starting December 15, 68,000 visitors flocked to the island, marking an average daily arrival of 11,000, a significant increase from the typical 7,300.
From December 1 to 20, Langkawi recorded a remarkable 170,000 tourist arrivals. The year-to-date figures stand at 2.63 million visitors, as stated by Lada in a release to The Star. Sea connectivity emerged as the predominant mode of travel to Langkawi, constituting 58% of arrivals. Notably, 70% arrived by ferry from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis, 15% by ro-ro vessels, and 6% by ferry from Thailand. The remaining 42% arrived by air, with domestic flights contributing 90% of this portion.
Lada reported that 19 cruise ships have docked at Langkawi, welcoming over 30,000 excursionists this year. With this positive momentum, Lada anticipates a promising outlook for 2024, projecting three million visitors. Factors contributing to this optimistic forecast include improved air connectivity and the hosting of significant events such as Routes Asia 2024, Ironman Langkawi, and the Langkawi International Half Marathon.
Routes Asia 2024, scheduled for February 27-29, is expected to bring together airlines, airports, tourism authorities, and aviation stakeholders to share best practices. In a bid to enhance air connectivity, Lada announced a new incentive starting January 1, offering a one-time US$10,000 (RM46,285) to participating airlines operating scheduled flights to Langkawi.
The island’s air connectivity will receive a boost with Flydubai commencing daily flights from Dubai to Langkawi on February 10. Additionally, AirAsia is set to launch direct flights from Kualanamu, Medan, to Langkawi in the first quarter of next year. Polish tour operator Itaka will introduce chartered flights to Langkawi for three years starting in 2024.
Langkawi, with its captivating allure, is poised for a robust tourism year ahead, fueled by strategic initiatives and increased air accessibility.
