Tourism operators are encouraged to market their products more innovatively, even after peak season, to draw more local visitors.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof said initiatives to offer local tourists tourist packages at low prices could be increased as the country's borders have still been closing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Currently, they (tourism sector operators) are happy at the influx of tourists here (because of the school holiday season), but they also must think about what can be done to attract people to come outside the season.

"At the same time, tourists must practice the new norms to maintain the entry of people into Langkawi without the need to implement the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) again," he told reporters after a dialogue session with hotel operators here.

The dialogue session in which 50 hotel operators were invited to address issues relating to the revival of the Langkawi tourism sector was held with the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU).

Mohd Redzuan pointed out that certain plans for diversifying Langkawi's economy, including aquaculture ventures, needed first to be explored to preserve Langkawi's sustainability.

"We have to check whether the proposal (aquaculture) can be done or not, if it does not negatively impact or harm the sustainability of Langkawi as a green area, it can be considered.

"But maybe not on a large scale, but more towards eco-tourism. It is good if you want to bring aquaculture to Langkawi, but you have to study the impact first," he said.

In the meantime, the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) registered in 2019 on 3.14 million visitors arriving in Langkawi compared to 1.6 million visits by November this year (down 54 per cent).

The revenue from the tourist industry on the island until last November also amounted to RM 900 million, compared to RM 1.7 billion in 2019.