Updated SOPs for travellers entering Langkawi through tourism bubble: February 2022

The updated standard operating procedures will come into effect on 16 February 2022 and will be the benchmark for the reopening of Malaysia’s international borders.

The Quartet of Malaysian COVID-19 ministers has agreed to extend the Langkawi International Travel Bubble (LITB) until the borders are open. Initially implemented on 15 November 2021, the three-month pilot project tested the readiness of Malaysia’s tourism ecosystem – particularly the tourism industry and frontline workers to safely receive international tourists from Malaysia in stages.

As the travel bubble expands, the standard operating procedures for foreign travellers entering Malaysia via LITB have been adjusted accordingly in accordance with the latest regulations issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The changes are as follows:

1. Fully vaccinated tourist may leave Langkawi on day 5 if RT-PCR test result is negative on day 4 or negative RTK-Ag (professional) test on day 5;
2. Children 12 years and younger can travel with their vaccinated parent/guardian without proof of vaccination;
3. Children under the age of two do not need a COVID-19 screening test;
4. Every foreign visitor is required to purchase an insurance policy (COVID-19 and travel) worth $50,000.Malaysian citizens residing abroad are exempt from this requirement; and
5. From 22 February 2022, flights arriving via KLIA2 will be allowed.

The updated standard operating procedures will come into effect on 16 February 2022 and will be the benchmark for the reopening of Malaysia’s international borders. For the full SOP, click here.

Scroll below for a summary of key things to watch out for:

allowed movement

• Subject to Ministry of Health (MOH) / Immigration (JIM) / Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) approved countries.
• The list of high risk countries/prohibited countries refers to the presence of tourists and not citizenship.
• No approval through the MyTravelPass (MTP) system is required during enrollment.
• Stay on Langkawi Island for at least three days.

Stay (three to seven days)

• Transportation to and from Langkawi Island should be via Kuala Lumpur or direct air transportation to Langkawi Island.
• Activities for international tourists are limited to the Langkawi Island area.
• Tourists who have fully vaccinated the booster may leave Langkawi on day 5 if RT-PCR test result is negative on day 4 or RTK-Ag (professional) test on day five was negative.

Stay (>seven days)

• Travel to Langkawi Island should be by air, via Kuala Lumpur or directly to Langkawi Island.
• If the RTPCR COVID-19 test result is negative, tourists can leave Langkawi Island via domestic exit (air or sea) on the eighth day.
• Travel to all destinations in Malaysia is permitted except for areas declared under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
• Tourists fully vaccinated with the booster may leave Langkawi on Day 5 if the RT-PCR test result is negative on Day 4 or RTK-Ag (Pro) on Day 5 is negative.

Tourism

• Individuals who have been fully vaccinated 14 days from the second injection or 28 days after a single injection (depending on the type of vaccine). The vaccines approved by the Ministry of Health are listed in Appendix 1 of the full SOP file.
• There is no age limit. Children 12 years and younger can travel with their vaccinated parent/guardian without proof of vaccination.
• The following individuals are not permitted to travel under the Langkawi International Travel Bubble:

  • positive for COVID-19 infection;
  • close contact with a positive case;
  • Individuals subject to a Home Surveillance Order (HSO);
  • individuals subject to mandatory quarantine;
  • Individuals who have recently arrived from a high-risk country; and
  • those with symptoms.

purchase insurance

• Every foreign visitor is required to purchase an insurance policy (COVID19 and travel) worth US$50,000 during their stay in Malaysia. This insurance policy can be purchased from a Malaysian or foreign insurance company before departure to Malaysia and can be packaged into a tour package by a travel agency/travel agency.
• Insurance policies packaged with airline or lodging purchases are also permitted as long as COVID-19 and travel are covered, including:

  • Daily quarantine facility fee
  • After a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, emergency medical transport by air/sea to the nearest private healthcare facility (categories 3 – 5)
  • Emergency medical expenses to treat an illness or injury
  • Mortuary and Burial Services
  • Daily Isolation Facility Fee

• Malaysian citizens residing abroad are exempt from this requirement.

Book a hotel

• All foreign tourists must book their hotel through a travel agency/travel agency registered and licensed with MOTAC before flying to Malaysia.
• Visitors must bring printed proof of documents, such as payment receipts for tour packages.

Booking and payment for laboratory tests

• Booking and payment for RT-PCR test needs to be included in tour packages offered by MOTAC registered and licensed tour operators/travel agents

Screening Tests and Quarantine Waivers

flights via Kuala Lumpur

• Upon arrival at KLIA or KLIA2, the operator of the private health screening test facility will provide visitors with an identification tag. Private health screening facility operators will:

  • Check the tourist’s complete vaccination certificate;
  • ensure that the MySejahtera app is downloaded and running on the visitor’s electronic device;
  • Make sure visitors scan the “Langkawi Island International Tourism Bubble Traveller” QR code and fill in the MySejahtera Travel form.

• Thereafter, visitors must undergo RT-PCR tests at private health screening facilities.
• Children under the age of two do not need a COVID-19 screening test.
• MOTAC staff will check the list for the travel agency.
• Malaysian citizens returning from abroad can also enter Langkawi Island following the same procedures as foreign tourists.
• Visitors will be taken to the Ministry of Health counter/station for verification of COVID-19 screening test results and confirmation of quarantine exemption.
• Only tourists who have a negative result and have obtained permission from the Ministry of Health can go to the immigration counter.
• If a tourist is found to be symptomatic or positive, the private health screening facility operator is responsible for arranging for the transfer of the tourist to a designated private isolation/quarantine location (for categories 1 and 2) or private hospitals (for categories 3, 4 class, and 5).

stay in Langkawi

Stay (three to seven days)

• Activities for international tourists are limited to the Langkawi Island area until the seventh day.
• RTK-Antigen self-checks are performed on the second, fourth and sixth days after arrival.
• RTK-Antigen (professional) tests are performed on the third and fifth day after arrival and must be administered by a travel agency.
• Fully vaccinated tourist may leave Langkawi on day 5 if RTPCR test is negative on day 4 or RTK-Ag (professional) test on day five was negative.
• Tourists are required to undergo an RT-PCR test before leaving Malaysia, depending on the health protocols of the next destination country.
• If a tourist is found to be symptomatic or positive, the responsible travel agency/travel agency must report to the designated private isolation/quarantine location (applicable to categories 1 and 2) the Ministry of Health/Private Health Inspection Agency designated to manage the tourist) or private hospital (applies to categories 3, 4 and 5).

Safety Responsibilities for International Visitors

Before traveling:

• Make sure to provide a digital vaccination certificate or a complete vaccination confirmation card (in printed form).
• Monitor their own health by ensuring they are always at low risk and updated from time to time through the MySejahtera app.
• Book through the following registered and licensed tour operators/travel agencies Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Mortak).

During travel:

• Monitor the health of yourself and your tour group members to make sure they are at optimal levels or asymptomatic.
• Must ensure their MySejahtera profile is always low risk and always use the MySejahtera app to check in at each destination.
• Masks must be worn in public places and vehicles.
• Follow all travel instructions and relevant SOPs for each destination visited.
• RTK-Antigen self-checks are performed on the second, fourth and sixth days after arrival.
• RTK-Antigen (professional) tests are performed on the third and fifth day after arrival, administered by the travel agency.
• If tourists wish to stay in Langkawi Island for more than 7 days or wish to travel to their next destination in Malaysia after the 7th day, the tourist needs to undergo an RT-PCR COVID-19 test on the 7th day.
• Tourists fully vaccinated with the booster may leave Langkawi on Day 5 if the RT-PCR test result is negative on Day 4 or RTK-Ag (Pro) on Day 5 is negative.
• If the COVID-19 test result is negative, tourists are allowed to continue to any destination in Malaysia after the seventh day (except areas declared by EMCO).

Before returning to your country of origin:

• Tourists are required to undergo RT-PCR before leaving Malaysia, but this depends on the health protocols of the next destination country.
• For international tourists who stay in Langkawi for three days, RT-PCR test on the day of arrival or the next day at the latest is valid for boarding (only for tourists with direct flights to Langkawi).

When returning:

• Continue to monitor the health of yourself and your family.
• If necessary, self-isolate and seek medical treatment at the nearest medical facility if you develop symptoms.

For the full SOP, click here.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri hopes the decision will benefit international travellers who wish to visit Malaysia through LITB.

Image/123rf.com

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