If you think that many Malaysians are headed to domestic tourism spots during the long holidays, then this might surprise you.
The number of tourists visiting Langkawi continues to decline by between 30 and 39% compared to last year, reflecting similar challenges faced by other major tourist destinations in the country.
For illustration purposes only
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Langkawi Tourism Association (LTA), Zainudin Kadir, said that based on official data obtained by the association, the trend clearly shows that more domestic tourists are opting to travel abroad, and this time, particularly to southern Thailand.
Many are choosing destinations like Hatyai due to the cheaper costs and offerings that are more interesting.
So, what could be the cause of the decline in tourists in Langkawi?
Zainudin was quoted by Harian Metro as saying that the never-ending issue of ferry services is one of the major causes, as tourists tend to lose patience when forced to wait for tickets or change their travel plan. Another factor contributing to the drop in visitor numbers is the high cost of flight tickets, reaching thousands of ringgit for a round trip, which can be a burden on domestic tourists.
“Imagine getting a cheap ticket to go, but the return fare is significantly higher.”
Despite the flaws, Zainuddin said that the tourist destinations in Malaysia, such as Langkawi, still have their own unique appeal but called for a fresh boost, including the promotional work in local tourism, resulting in the local market’s full potential not being realised.
“The government needs to be more aggressive in promoting tourist destinations in Malaysia as prime holiday options. We canāt let our own domestic tourists choose neighbouring countries instead.”
For illustration purposes only (hatyai, thailand)
“We want Langkawi to return to being the gateway to paradise for tourism in the country. Government agencies must join forces with industry players to restore the situation,” Zainuddin said.
As such, LTA will launch the Langkawi Mega Sales Tourism (LMST) from 1 October to 31 December, offering discounts of 15% to 60% on various tourism products and activities.
Zainuddin also pointed out that he aimed to attract 3.5 million tourists to Langkawi by the end of December, with 2.8 million visitors recorded as of September.
