Langkawi, the 99 Magical Islands in the Sun is set to welcome more travellers from Chengdu, China with the launch of Batik Air’s Chartered flights, the first of which arrived on the island on 22 July 2023 with 180 passengers.
This is a sign of the island’s fast post-pandemic recovery and the rising demand seen from travellers from China, entrenching the global appeal of Langkawi as a preferred holiday destination.
Batik Air’s Boeing 737 Chartered flights will start with 10 inaugural flights from Chengdu, China from between 22 July to 31 July 2023 with a total capacity of 1,800 passengers.
The maiden flight, carrying 180 passengers landed at Langkawi International Airport, at 7.25am, 22 July 2023.
Wan Kamarul Faisal Wan Kamardin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) who received the chartered Batik Air flight in Langkawi, shared his delight in welcoming the travellers from Chengdu, and what this means for Langkawi.
“This news is a step in the right direction for the island, as tourists from China have long been great admirers of Langkawi and are known to be the highest contributor in terms of arrivals and expenditure in the past.
"They visit the island for its natural beauty, unique experiences, stunning sun-kissed beaches and pristine waters. We are excited to receive them and host them to a unparalleled experience in beautiful Langkawi.”
He said that with air travel gaining momentum this year (2023), Langkawi looks forward to increasing tourism numbers into the country via new routes and additional flight frequencies.
“With the launch of these Batik Air chartered flights from Chengdu, China, we expect the demand to grow and to be met with more travellers choosing Langkawi for their holiday destination, not just from Chengdu, but from other parts of China and the world.
"We expect this launch to spur an increase in more direct flights into Langkawi from all across the world,” enthused Tuan Wan Kamarul.
In 2022 alone, statistics showed that 2.57 million tourists visited the island and this number is expected to increase in 2023 with 3.2 million visitors projected to visit this breath-taking island.
LADA has planned numerous high impact events and experiences within the island to further stimulate tourism and to continuously position Langkawi as a must-visit destination for international and domestic travellers.
This year alone, travellers can look forward to Ironman Malaysia Langkawi, Langkawi Legendary Ride 2023, Langkawi Geopark Enduro Challenge and Langkawi International Half Marathon, held in various parts of Langkawi.
New attractions within Langkawi such as the Dream Forest, Malaysia's first immersive night attraction offers a surreal experience of sound and light, and is set to captivate visitors.
The park brings local stories and legends to life through soundscape, illuminations, and projection mapping on the trees.
Visitors can expect to see and hear stories about Dayang Bunting, Merong Mahawangsa, and the Giants of Langkawi, all while surrounded by the natural beauty of the rainforest.
The reopening of China’s borders in 2023 as well as the launch of the direct chartered flights to the island is expected to have a huge positive impact on Langkawi’s tourism industry.
In terms of ameliorating the local economy and creating more jobs for locals, there is no denying that the future does looks bright for this land of shimmering seas and picturesque views.
The tourism industry in Langkawi is set for an upward trajectory due to LADA’s tremendous effort, hard work and dedication. - KitaReporters/Media Release
