International bubble a lifeline

Getting ready: Tiffin Jeiwa founder and director Ina Fadilah Nizar (seated) and her staff Nurnadira Syuhada Mohamad Zim taking part in the Buy Malaysian Products campaign to help traders recover from the Covid-19 lockdown at Dataran Cenang, Langkawi. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

LANGKAWI: The start of Malaysia’s first international tourism bubble today is being watched closely as the country is hoping to reopen its borders next year in a bid to revive an industry badly battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

While authorities have vowed to keep a close watch on the entry of foreign tourists into Langkawi, tourism players on the island, the first holiday spot to reopen to domestic tourists on Sept 16, are now looking forward to another boost.