A CAMPAIGN to address issues of pricing disputes, poor service standards and cleanliness will be launched to enhance Langkawi’s appeal as a top holiday destination.
Kedah Tourism general manager Mohd Zaidy Omar said the “Langkawi Care” campaign with Tourism Malaysia and Langkawi Development Authority aimed to eliminate unlicensed agents and unfair price mark-ups.
“We need to shed the perception that holidaying in Langkawi is expensive, as this is not the case.
“Tourists can choose packages to suit their budget.
“The island offers a wide range of products, from budget-friendly options to premium experiences, including sunset cruises priced between RM200 and RM1,000,” he said during a business-to-business (B2B) networking event in George Town, Penang.
Mohd Zaidy added that tourist arrivals to Langkawi increased last year, with further growth expected in 2026.
The B2B programme sought to encourage travel agents to promote mainland Kedah attractions alongside Langkawi, which remains the state’s primary draw.
“Langkawi remains the main destination, but Kedah also has many attractive tourism products on the mainland that are gaining attention,” he said.
Among the highlighted destinations are Gunung Jerai, Paddy Museum in Alor Setar, Pulau Songsong in Yan, Rock Village in Sik and Gua Sireh in Baling.
The event drew about 40 representatives from 30 Kedah-based travel companies engaging with nearly 100 buyers from Penang and Perak.
The initiative was supported by Tourism Malaysia in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026.
Mohd Zaidy said Kedah had exceeded its 2025 tourism target of seven million visitors, recording more than 7.1 million domestic tourists and about 2.2 million international arrivals.
He said the state was targeting more than seven million arrivals this year, with Langkawi expected to attract over three million visitors.
He added that familiarisation trips would be organised for inbound travel agents based in Penang to promote bundled tourism packages covering both Penang and Kedah, allowing spillover of international tourist arrivals into mainland Kedah.
Present at the event were Tourism Malaysia Northern Region director Abdul Hadi Che Man and Kedah State Economic Planning Unit assistant director Wan Aidil Anwar Wan Azlan.
