“Langkawi is all ready to welcome tourists once the island is reopened under tourism bubble programme effective this coming 16th September 2021,” says Nasaruddin bin Abdul Muttalib, Chief Executive Officer of LADA.
In line with YAB Prime Minister’s announcement on 2nd September 2021 selecting Langkawi as Malaysia’s pilot destination to be reopened to local tourists, LADA has organised a public cleaning event in conjunction with the island’s reopening. Named as ‘Cuci-Cuci Langkawi’, the programme involves areas around Pantai Chenang. It symbolically conveys Langkawi’s readiness to receive tourists again as announced by YAB Kedah Chief Minister on 31st August 2021.
For the past two weeks, MPLBP has been actively cleaning public attractions whereas LADA alone had conducted a total of 36 public cleaning series that particularly focused on geosites. They were organised to cultivate the spirits of tolerance and teamwork, gradually also nurturing love of cleanliness and cooperative values among members of Langkawi’s tourism community. Most importantly, this effort also helps ensure tourist attractions remain clean and uncontaminated.
Other agencies and departments involved in organising this programme include Langkawi District and Land Office, Langkawi Municipal Council Tourism City (MPLBP), Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), Langkawi District Department of Information, Langkawi District Health Office, Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Naval Region 3 Headquarters (MAWILA), and local NGOs such as Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Langkawi Business Association (LBA), and Trash Hero.
According to LADA’s CEO too, a total of 120 volunteers are involved in the cleaning of three main zones. They are separated into three groups of 40 members who are assigned to respectively clean Zone A: Business Premise in Chenang, Zone B: Shore Area of Pantai Chenang, and Zone C: Jalan Pantai Chenang (from Laman Padi junction to Aseania Resort & Spa Langkawi). Such initiative will be continued to ensure the sustainability of Langkawi’s development is well-preserved, compliant with the island’s recognition as Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark.
LADA had also recently won Heritage Article category in Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards 2021 through a feature entitled ‘The Diverse Heritage of Kubang Badak Biogeotrail’ which was virtually held on 8th September 2021.
The ‘Cuci-Cuci Langkawi’ event is implemented after consulting Langkawi District Health Office regarding necessary steps to be taken for preventing COVID-19 spread. The local authority is also directly involved to ensure the programme is executed with strict compliance to SOPs in force.
