1,520 passengers on eight flights flew to Langkawi under travel bubble project - Wee

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 1,520 travellers flew to Langkawi on eight flights under the Langkawi Domestic Tourism Bubble pilot project today.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said they travelled via Malaysia Airlines (four flights), Air Asia (three flights) and a Malindo flight.

"I saw that some passengers had brought their own COVID-19 self-test kits (saliva test) and some had bought from the sales counters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA2," he said in a Facebook post today.

He said during his inspection at the airports one passenger tested positive for COVID-19 and necessary follow-up action was taken.

"Family members of the passenger also did not board the flight as they were listed as close contacts," he said.

Wee said the Rapid Test Kit-Antigen (RTK-Antigen) screening process, aided by Health Ministry officials, ran smoothly.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) General Manager (Operations) Shahrunnizam Abd Jamil accompanied Wee during his airport inspection rounds.

Wee said the COVID-19 screening was to ensure everyone's safety and the pilot project's success.

He also said French and South Korean tourists whom he interacted with expressed their happiness that the domestic tourism sector has been revived with this project.

They also welcomed the government's efforts to improve the standard operating procedures (SOP), including subjecting travellers to COVID-19 screening tests to ensure everyone's safety.

Wee noted that the airports made quieter by the COVID-19 pandemic before this were lively once more with plenty of smiles from airline staff members who were more than happy to be of service again.

He also reminded all parties to always adhere to the SOPs set to ensure the government's recovery efforts for the country, especially the economy and the tourism sector, are successful.

-- BERNAMA