Malaysia plans to reopen to fully vaccinated tourists from any country in November


Hayley Skirka
  • English
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After being closed to overseas visitors for more than 18 months, Malaysia has plans to reopen its international borders.

Tropical Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands in the Strait of Malacca, will be the first destination in the country to reopen to foreign tourists.

The paradisiacal islands have been welcoming domestic tourists since September. From next month, fully vaccinated travellers from most countries around the world will be able to travel to Langkawi.

“Langkawi will be the pioneer destination for international tourists coming to Malaysia. We anticipate the international borders will be open by the middle of November,” said Noor Azman Samsudin, deputy director of Malaysia Tourism for Asia and Africa, at a press conference on Tuesday.

“We’re still waiting for the official statement from our government,” added Samsudin at the media briefing which was part of the Gulf Travel Show.

SkyCab cable cars in Langkawi. The holiday island reopened to domestic tourists in September and is now set to welcome international visitors. AFP
SkyCab cable cars in Langkawi. The holiday island reopened to domestic tourists in September and is now set to welcome international visitors. AFP

Langkawi reopened to domestic tourists on September 16 in what was Malaysia's first tourism bubble.

In the days since then, no transmission of Covid-19 from tourists to locals, or vice versa, has been reported.

“The real success of our Langkawi domestic bubble is that no infections happened between tourists and local people,” said Nasaruddin Bin Abdul Muttalib, chief executive of Langkawi Development Authority.

More than 92 per cent of Langkawi's local population are already fully vaccinated, he said.

PCR tests needed, no vaccines required for children

Local residents play with bubbles at Pantai Cenang in Langkawi on September 15. AFP
Local residents play with bubbles at Pantai Cenang in Langkawi on September 15. AFP

Tourists hoping to travel to Langkawi's islands will also need to have completed a full dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Seven vaccines have been approved for use in Malaysia, including Sinopharm, which the UAE has relied heavily upon. Children under the age of 18 will not need to be vaccinated but must be travelling with an immunised parent or guardian.

PCR tests will also be required, taken no more than 72 hours before travelling to Malaysia. Another PCR test will be needed after landing in Langkawi. This will not be administered at the airport to avoid congestion. Instead, travellers will be able to take the test at their hotels within 48 hours of arrival.

“According to our plan, we will open for any countries to come to Langkawi, it is not restricted to any destination. However, we still seek some advice for those high-risk destinations,” said Muttalib.

Travellers planning to visit Langkawi are encouraged to book stays in hotels that have been awarded “clean and safe” certification by the Malaysian Association of Hotels.

The island destination of Langkawi promises pristine beaches, clear waters and lush rainforests. It's home to South-East Asia's first Unesco Global Geopark and is an immersion in nature – with everything from ancient rock formations and dramatic mountain peaks to a wealth of flora and fauna.

Malaysia's Langkawi offers unlimited nature, pristine beaches and a thriving halal culinary scene. Photo: The Datai Langkawi
Malaysia's Langkawi offers unlimited nature, pristine beaches and a thriving halal culinary scene. Photo: The Datai Langkawi

Like much of Malaysia, it's also got a strong halal culinary scene, appealing to Muslim travellers.

Six more destinations across Malaysia, including Kuching, will be next in line to reopen to international visitors said Samsudin.

The news of Langkawi's reopening plans for international visitors comes after Malaysia lifted travel restrictions for fully vaccinated residents on Sunday.

The country says it has achieved its target of inoculating 90 per cent of its adult population, meaning Malaysians can now travel overseas again without requesting permission.

WHAT IS GRAPHENE?

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. 

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Where to buy art books in the UAE

There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.

In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show. 

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Europa League final

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Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
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Champions League Last 16

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Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG) 

Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED) 

Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA) 

Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG) 

Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA) 

Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG) 

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)  

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While you're here
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Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'

Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.

Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)

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Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)

Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)

Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)

Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)

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Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)

SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)

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Quarter-final

UAE v Australia, Friday, 8pm, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain

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Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)

Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)

Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)

Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four

Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai) 

Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)

Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)

Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)

Sept 28: Final (Dubai)

RESULTS FOR STAGE 4

Stage 4 Dubai to Hatta, 197 km, Road race.

Overall leader Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Stage winners: 1. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal) 2. Matteo Moschetti ITA (Trek - Segafredo) 3. Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

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Updated: October 12, 2021, 11:19 AM`