Langkawi has seen a massive influx of approximately 75,000 visitors over the past five days, as holidaymakers and residents returned to the island for the Aidilfitri celebrations. The surge in arrivals began on Monday, reflecting a high demand for both tourism and family reunions during the festive break.
Of the total arrivals, 18,000 people travelled via passenger ferries from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah, while another 7,000 utilised roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) services. Despite the popularity of sea routes, air travel remained the primary choice for most visitors, with an estimated 50,000 passengers arriving through domestic and international flights during the same period.
Increased frequency for sea and air routes
Ferry Line Ventures operations manager Norhafiz Abdul Wahid reported that 11,230 passengers entered the island through the Kuala Perlis route alone. For the Kuala Kedah route, 6,960 local and foreign passengers were recorded across seven trips, which included two additional services specifically scheduled to handle the holiday crowd.
Langkawi Port general manager Muhd Nasir Abd Aziz confirmed that the Tanjung Lembung Pier recorded around 7,000 passenger arrivals. To meet the heightened festive demand, ferry operators increased their trip frequency to eight times daily, doubling the usual schedule of four trips. This adjustment was crucial in ensuring the smooth movement of both passengers and vehicles between the mainland and the island.
High volume at international airport
Langkawi International Airport has been managing a consistent flow of traffic, receiving an average of 20 incoming flights daily. These flights originated from various hubs, including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru, and international destinations such as Singapore and Bengaluru, India.
Airport personnel, including a staff member known as Man, indicated that teams were briefed to handle an average of 5,000 passengers per day throughout this peak period. The coordinated efforts across the transport sectors have managed to facilitate the arrival of tens of thousands of visitors as the island celebrates one of its busiest periods of the year.
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