The region’s iconic tourist destination Langkawi will continue to welcome foreign visitors following the Malaysian government’s decision to extend the Langkawi international travel bubble.
The travel bubble that started on Nov 15 last year, was initiated as a three-month pilot project to assess the readiness and preparedness of Malaysia’s tourism ecosystem. This was the first step in opening up the country to foreigners following the numerous lockdowns since March 2020 that crippled the tourism industry.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, in a statement this morning, said the decision to extend the travel bubble until the reopening of the national borders was made at the Covid-19 Quartet Ministers Meeting on Feb 8.
The standard operating procedures (SOPs) for foreign tourists entering Malaysia via the travel bubble was standardised, according to the latest requirements by the Health Ministry that was gazetted yesterday.
The new rules include:
- Children aged 12 and below may travel with their vaccinated parents/guardians without having to prove their vaccination status.
- Children under the age of two (2) DO NOT need to undergo the Covid-19 screening test
- Foreign tourists are to purchase an insurance policy worth US$50,000 (Covid-19 and travel). Malaysian citizens living abroad, however, are exempted from this requirement.
- Flight arrivals via klia2 are allowed, beginning Feb 22.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri hoped that the latest SOPs would benefit international travellers who wished to visit Malaysia via the Langkawi travel bubble.
Malaysia registered 27,831 Covid-19 cases yesterday – the highest ever recorded since March 2020.
However, 99.65 per cent of the cases were in Categories One and Two (asymptomatic, or only mild symptoms).
