A promotional programme will take place in Kelantan from Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and from the tourism industry players to draw state tourists to the duty-free resort island in order to revitalise the Langkawi tourism industry, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LADA chief executive officer Dr. Hezri Adnan reported that the change has begun on 8 December after the launch by low-cost airline AirAsia of direct flights from Kota Bharu to Langkawi.

‘’LADA is still looking at suitable dates to meet the Kelantan state government administration to promote tourism packages to visitors from Kelantan,’’ he said when met after the launching of a programme to release ‘unjam’ (fish gathering devices) at the Kuala Muda fishing jetty, here.

Hezri said that Langkawi was now in the green zone because the last patient to seek care in Sultanah Maliha Hospital who discharged COVID-19 cases on Oct 13 did not record an active COVID.

In another development, Hezri claimed that LADA and various government agencies and local fishing communities were working on an initiative of the LADA to improve fishing on the island.

In addition to the Kuala Muda Fishermen Base, he said the number of fishermen going into the Langkawi Sea increased following the COVID 19 pandemic.

He hoped that this programme would improve the fishing sector and benefit tourism operators who lost their income because of the pandemic.