TOURISM industry players in Langkawi are looking at markets beyond China after the Covid-19 outbreak led to tour cancellations and suspension of flights from Hubei province.

Hotel occupancy rates are currently between 20% and 30% with tourist arrivals to the island declining by between 35% and 40%, said Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) chairman for Kedah and Perlis Mohd Yusin Mohd Yatim.

Hotels and travel agents most affected are the ones dependent on tourists from China.

“Those relying on European tourists are not so affected,” Yusin told The Malaysian Insight.

He said Matta will continue its role to promote Malaysia as a tourist destination.

“This week, Matta is launching a tourism expo involving travel agents across Malaysia to promote Kedah, including Langkawi.

“We’re currently focusing on the domestic and European markets as well as several other countries. We hope this strategy will address the shortage of tourists from China.”

From March 4 to 8, Matta will be joining ITB Berlin, Germany’s largest tourism expo.

The government should now look into a temporary suspension of the tourism and departure taxes to attract more tourists, he said.

However, Langkawi tourism industry association president Ahmad Phisol Ishak said industry players can’t expect the government to bail them out.

They need to take on a positive attitude to address the impact of Covid-19 on Langkawi, he said.

“Our association will be bringing Japanese tourists to Langkawi. In April, we will bring 20 to 30 industry players to promote Langkawi for a week in Tokyo and Osaka.

“In the 1990s, the market from Japan was very important because we had direct flights, so we’re committed to bringing more Japanese tourists to Langkawi.”

Although the number of tourists from China is declining, visitors from Europe are still at a satisfactory rate, albeit lower, Phisol said.

“Now (tourists from) Scandinavian countries are down, as well as some European countries. To promote Langkawi, we have to keep moving and moving.”

Malaysia has so far registered 22 cases of Covid-19, of which eight people have recovered and discharged from hospital.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the government is ready to tap into the European, American and Middle Eastern markets to make up for the decline in tourists from China.

Meanwhile Langkawi Tourism Association CEO Zainudin Kadir urged the government to move quickly, saying the normally busy hotels at Pantai Cenang have been seriously affected.

“The occupancy rate has dropped 28% to 30%. There have been many cancellations, especially from tourist agents from China.

“We need to promote to the world that Langkawi is safe for travellers,” he said.

“There is also a drop in tours. So far, three local travel agents who used to bring in Chinese people to Langkawi have had to cease operations.”

Kedah previously targeted five million tourist arrivals in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020.

Zainudin is worried the target is now out of reach.

“I think we can achieve just two million tourists this year. That is why we need to ramp up our promotion campaigns, to show Langkawi is safe to visit.” – February 18, 2020.