Langkawi, 14 September – In anticipation of the Langkawi Domestic Tourism Travel Bubble pilot project set to be launched on 16th September 2021, the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) together with Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) organised the ‘Majlis Gerak Kerja Penggiat Industri Pelancongan Langkawi Bersama NCIA dan LADA Sempena Pembukaan Gelembung Perjalanan Pelancongan Domestik’ to rejuvenate domestic tourism industry in Langkawi.

Attended by LADA’s Chief Executive Officer, Tuan Haji Nasaruddin bin Abdul Muttalib and NCIA’s Chief Executive, Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John, the event saw tourism industry players in Langkawi given recognition and certificates of participation for NCER’s integrated Human Capital Programmes (HCP) JomKerja@NCER, JomNiaga@NCER, and entrepreneurNCER.

These programmes are aligned with NCER’s Strategic Development Plan 2021-2025 (SDP 2021-2025) – COVID-19 Impact and Mitigation Strategies, Projects, and Programmes approved by the government to spur economic growth and address regional imbalances in the region with a special focus on mitigating the impact of COVID-19.

“This strategic collaboration between LADA and NCIA is a testament to the government’s efforts to assist companies and workers in the local tourism industry recover from the impact of the on-going pandemic through the various NCER human capital programmes implemented,” said LADA’s Chief Executive Officer, Tuan Haji Nasaruddin bin Abdul Muttalib.

“Tourism players in Langkawi are looking forward to the reopening of Langkawi after enduring over 20 months of stagnation,” he added.

De Baron Holidays Sdn. Bhd. owner, Encik Muhammad Zulhaimi bin Romli applauded NCIA and LADA’s efforts in helping business owners such as himself receive these much-needed loans from banks to stay in business. “It is hard for anyone to apply for a loan from banks during this pandemic, and the tourist industry is even more challenging with the Movement Control Order (MCO). The loan will indeed help me sustain my business to pay for operational expenses as tourists will now be coming back to Langkawi,” he said.

After witnessing the virtual event attended by LADA and NCIA’s officials, Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John was also quoted as saying “NCIA is committed to see Langkawi’s tourism industry and economy recover from the current pandemic situation. We hope that our programmes will benefit the Rakyat in Langkawi holistically in providing income through more jobs, business opportunities and alleviating their current hardship due to the pandemic. We also have plans to offer our Human Capital Programmes to tourism players in other tourist destinations in the NCER when the time comes.”

Source: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA)