Visiting Langkawi? Here Are A Few Reminders From Someone Who Lives On The Island
Be polite, do not litter, and have fun!
By Arisha Rozaidee — 14 Sep 2021, 07:17 PM
The government recently announced that fully vaccinated domestic tourists will soon be able to visit Langkawi
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri announced that fully vaccinated individuals in Malaysia, except for those from areas under an Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO), will have the option to visit Langkawi starting 16 September, either via flight or land routes, as reported by The Star.
Among the tourism activities allowed are staying at hotels and homestays, and the usage of facilities such as swimming pools, gymnasium, lounge, hall, and business events (MICE).
The minister also noted that beach activities, water sports, snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing tours, edutainment centres, recreation parks, and other leisure, recreational, and social activities will also be allowed.
Meanwhile, BFM News noted that the government is still fine-tuning new rules for tourists in order to protect and conserve Pulau Payar Marine Park.
Following the announcement, an island local took to Twitter to list out a few things that people should take note of when visiting the beautiful holiday destination
She told SAYS that she first moved to Langkawi right before the pandemic hit.
On 11 September, she wrote on Twitter, "PSA: If there are those who'd like to vacation in Langkawi, here are a few tips from a local."
1. Make sure to wear your mask at all times
Alia wrote, "Yes, I know you're vaccinated. Yes, we are vaccinated too. But there are still those who have not been vaccinated or could not be vaccinated like those with illnesses or children. Take care of public health. If cases here rise, where else would you go on holiday?"
2. Bring your vaccine card
Alia also added that tourists should bring their vaccine cards as well as remember to register through the MySejahtera app when entering premises.
"If you don't register, later the business owners will have to pay a hefty fine. They can't afford that," she wrote.
3. Be polite
"It's a pity that you haven't gone on holiday for a long time right? But this doesn't mean you can act like devils. You're no king. Always be considerate and kind when interacting with waiters, cashiers, drivers, etc. They're also human," Alia tweeted.
4. Do not feed the wildlife
"Monkeys are cute, whatever, but monkeys belong in the wild. Monkeys that are used to being fed by humans will start eating trash and also bother other people. It's happened to me before, it's traumatising and not funny, okay," she said.
5. Do not support unethical tour operators
"If they offer eagle feeding, do not go. Oftentimes, tour operators will throw chicken fat to attract eagles. This is not good for the health of the eagles. Eagles can find their own food. Just watch them from afar please," Alia said.
6. Do not litter
Alia noted that there is not enough manpower to manage litter on the island in comparison to the mainland.
"Don't act like monkeys. Dispose of your trash properly. If rubbish bins are full, hold them until you find an empty one. If I see you littering, I will ask you to swallow the trash."
Besides that, you can also consider helping underprivileged families on the island
Regardless of whether you're planning to pay a visit to Langkawi or not in the near future, you can contribute to this cause.
It's run by a collective dubbed Kampung Geographic and they're looking to supply food and other essentials to families in need.
Every RM100 donated can provide a family with a month's supply of diapers and baby formula, or two weeks of groceries.
To help, you may deposit some cash to:
MXH Enterprise
8009838347 (CIMB Bank)
Remember to limit your movement and keep practising physical distancing. Find out the latest COVID-19 updates on the Ministry of Health's COVIDNOW website.
