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TOURIST arrivals to Langkawi have steadily increased each year since the Covid-19 pandemic, reaching approximately 2.9 million visitors last year, up from 2.8 million in 2023 and 2.5 million in 2022, according to official statistics.
Kedah’s Executive Councillor for Tourism, Culture and Entrepreneurship Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin said on Thursday figures released by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) demonstrate the island’s steady post-pandemic recovery.
“Up to August 2025, Langkawi recorded 2.01 million tourist arrivals, compared with 1.96 million during the same period last year,” he said.
He highlighted the surge in visitors during the Hari Malaysia long holiday from 1 to 16 September, noting a 22.43 per cent rise in arrivals through the Kuah Ferry Terminal and a 27.86 per cent increase at Langkawi Port. Domestic flights rose by 10 per cent, while international flights jumped 23 per cent.
“I do not know where the Member of Parliament for Jelutong, RSN Rayer, obtained information claiming that Langkawi residents are suffering due to a lack of visitors and that the Kedah state government is doing nothing,” he added.
“These allegations are baseless, unreliable, and under normal circumstances, would not be made by anyone with a sound mind.”
Mohd Salleh also criticised Rayer’s remarks for seemingly dismissing both LADA’s statistics and credibility.
Further supporting the recovery, data from the Langkawi Municipal Council showed hotel room bookings for June to August 2025 totalled 995,962, a 47 per cent increase over the 678,327 bookings during the same period last year.
“All of this data clearly shows that tourist arrivals in Langkawi are not declining, but increasing. From which world did he get his information? How many times has he actually visited Langkawi?” he said.
He also described Rayer’s comments as irresponsible and malicious, noting the video clip of his parliamentary statement suggesting that locals are “suffering” and that the state government is indifferent.
Despite his criticism, Mohd Salleh extended an invitation to Rayer and others with a negative view of Langkawi to visit Kedah and receive a firsthand briefing.
“To the people of Kedah, especially those in Langkawi, let us defend the honour of the Pearl of Kedah. We do not need fabricated stories or roadside facts. Verified data is more than enough to serve as our shield,” he said.
“Langkawi is our right, our dignity, our asset. We should not allow others to belittle it at will.”
The rebuttal follows the circulation of a short video clip from parliamentary proceedings in which Rayer claimed Langkawi residents are struggling due to a lack of visitors while the state government allegedly remains inactive. - November 14, 2025