KUALA LUMPUR: Langkawi's tourism still relies on domestic visitors and is weighed down by high airfares, says Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
He said that while the island's overall performance had been on the mend, it had yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
"Langkawi's tourism recovery is heading in the right direction, but it hasn't reached its full potential. Based on data from the Langkawi Development Authority, the island recorded 2.9 million tourist arrivals in 2024, compared with 3.9 million before the pandemic — a recovery rate of 74%.
"As of August 2025, the rate is still below 81%," he said when winding up the ministry's Budget 2026 committee-stage debate in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 13).
Khairul Firdaus said the key drags on Langkawi's momentum were elevated domestic airfares and an over-dependence on the local market.
"This does not mean we only want to attract Malaysians –we also need to strengthen international promotions to bring in more foreign tourists," he said.
To lift Langkawi's appeal, he said the ministry had been spotlighting the island's natural beauty and eco-tourism draw through international promotions.
"In our sales missions, Langkawi is always portrayed as a beautiful island ideal for family vacations. We also promote its eco-tourism appeal, particularly the renowned Kilim Geopark and its natural treasures," he said.
To further strengthen industry participation, Tourism Malaysia had been encouraging local players to join travel fairs such as the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Carnival and the Visit Malaysia Travel Meet.
"To date, there are five direct international connections to Langkawi: Indigo Airlines (Bengaluru–Langkawi), Flydubai (Dubai–Langkawi), AirAsia (Singapore–Langkawi), Scoot Air (Singapore–Langkawi), and a chartered flight from Warsaw, Poland, operating between November 2025 and March 2026 during the winter season," he said.
The ministry has been allocated RM685mil under the 2026 Budget initiatives to prepare for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. This includes RM500mil for promotion, marketing, advertising and high-impact programmes and RM50mil for signature arts, culture and heritage events to stimulate domestic tourism and local economies.
