ON Oct 4, one of the stories that made the headline of the local news media was “Langkawi tourism bubble: 149 Covid-19 positive cases detected”. Now, if I plan to go to Langkawi for a holiday, I will be deterred from doing so, going by such a headline because it is a three-digit infection.
If the valuable lesson in inter-state travel learnt from the Sabah state election last year is fully grasped, then it should be seen that problem really started when the daily infection then moved to a three-digit level, and ballooning into a four-digit level late last year and a five-digit level this year.
And it does not help matter that on the same day too, another headline graced the news media: “Popular Langkawi hotel temporarily closed after over 50 staff, family members test positive for Covid-19”.
Although an office colleague said 149 positive-tested cases against a total of more than 38,000 domestic tourist arrivals in Langkawi was only about 0.39% of positive cases, still in absolute term it is a three-digit infection which will scare away any Mat, Minah and Bedah would-be tourists (the English proverb of Tom, Dick and Harry will connote foreign tourists are allowed to visit the holiday spot when at the moment they are not).
But after reading both articles from start to end, there is really no cause for alarm. The first article is referring to those would-be tourists of Langkawi who were positive-tested at the various entry points to Langkawi.
They had not reached the various Langkawi resorts yet. In other words, they had not yet become tourists and that’s why the phrase, “would-be tourists”.
These 149 would-be tourists who were positive-tested were the result of an excellent SOP which requires all domestic would-be tourists to be screened and tested at the doorsteps of Langkawi figuratively speaking.
They were all sent home to be isolated and put under Home Surveillance Order (HSO) to be quarantined.
This is a massive endeavour that must be complimented as it involved the screening and testing of a total of 40,458 people, of which 34,038 were screened at seven airport entry points and 6,420 others via entry points of ferry services in Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah using the RTK Antigen test.
These people are not at the tourism bubble, rather they are just approaching the outer side of the bubble and hence, any reporting on their infections should not be explicitly stated as a tourism bubble infection, as such reporting is a form of disservice to the tourism industry which was badly affected by the pandemic, and wanting to rise again from the ashes of devastation wreaked by the virus.
The fact is as of today (Oct 7), there is only one infection among the tourist arrivals in Langkawi which is a very good news that will spur more tourist arrivals in the months ahead so that the target of 400,000 tourist arrivals in Langkawi by year end set by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture could be met.
According to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri, the Langkawi travel bubble has recorded more than 38,000 arrivals, with an excess of RM15 million received in tourism receipts, since its reopening for domestic visitors on Sep 16.
As for the second article, the fact that it is a workplace cluster and not the travel bubble cluster must be emphasised in the heading as a form of reassurance to the public that all is well with the travel bubble.
Of course, in this case, the domestic tourists who stayed in the affected hotel might be infected but the story did explain that all the identified close contacts have undergone Covid-19 screening and had been placed under a HSO for 10 days, and the authorities had managed to control and contain the transmission of the virus. But you don’t get this crucial information by reading the headline.
Lest I would be accused of sweating over the small stuff, or making a mountain out of a molehill, the fact is in this era of time moving at a speed of lightning, people don’t have the time to read news articles or for that matter any article in full. They would read the headings first and form a first impression of what the article is all about based on the headings.
For an important topic such as Covid-19 or anything associated with it such as a travel bubble or adoption of an endemic strategy, it is imperative that the heading captures the essence of the story clearly, otherwise all the efforts towards improving public health or the recovery of the economy will be unconsciously “sabotaged” by such headlines.
So, what really constitutes a travel bubble infection or cluster? The concise answer is it must be among the tourists who were in the thick of the action to enjoy their holidays at Langkawi who were infected, or they contracted the virus within 14 days of their returning home.
And it is indeed very reassuring and a sign of good things to come for the recovery of the tourism industry when as of today the tourism bubble infection still remains at one when more than 38,000 had already visited the island since the pilot project on the travel bubble in Langkawi began on Sep 16.
What’s more, it is also very reassuring that this also implies that all parties – from the authorities, hotel and tour operators, enforcement officers and the tourists themselves – are very serious and working hard in ensuring SOP compliance is at a very high level.
If this high compliance level can be replicated at the national level, Malaysia would transit quickly to the endemic phase. These are the reassurances that one hopes to see in the news headlines.
Jamari Mohtar is Director, Media & Communications at EMIR Research, a think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
AWANI Columnist
Thu Oct 07 2021
![Reporting of Langkawi tourism bubble infections should be limited to domestic tourists only Reporting of Langkawi tourism bubble infections should be limited to domestic tourists only](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/71633417621_PantaiChenang.jpg)
A travel bubble infection or cluster comprises tourists enjoying their holidays at Langkawi who were infected, or they contracted the virus within 14 days of their returning home. - BERNAMA photo
![Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721017239_TBFADILLAH.jpg)
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
Pelan Transformasi Air sasar tingkatkan air bersih, tingkatkan liputan sistem kumbahan - Fadillah
![Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721103547_WargaThailandWitt.jpg)
Warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah seleweng diesel
Seorang warga Thailand mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen Alor Setar atas pertuduhan menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel.
Lilitan reben putih tak langgar peraturan - Timbalan Speaker
Ramli berkata, perkara itu juga adalah merupakan keputusannya dan bukan dibuat oleh Yang Dipertua Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
KR sedia tambah baik SOP pembinaan lebuhraya
Alaxender berkata kementerian bersedia untuk mendedahkan laporan kajian insiden jika ia melibatkan kemalangan berskala besar dan meragut nyawa.
![Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721107133_keropokberacunrem.jpg)
Reman suspek kes keropok beracun disambung dua hari
Tempoh reman terhadap seorang pemilik kebun disambung selama dua hari, bagi membantu siasatan kematian dua kanak-kanak yang meninggal dunia akibat makan keropok beracun.
KPM alukan pesara guru ajar Bahasa Inggeris
Jelas Fadhlina Sidek pesara-pesara guru telah banyak membantu usaha KPM dalam meningkatkan PdP bahasa Inggeris termasuk melalui Program Highly Immersive Programme Mentor (HIP Mentor).
![Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721100784_TBmysj.jpg)
Tidak perlu lagi kemas kini status COVID-19 dalam MySejahtera - KKM
Jika positif COVID-19 melalui ujian kendiri, pesakit boleh mengunjungi klinik dan hospital berdekatan bagi mendapatkan pengesahan.
![Mayat hampir reput dijumpai di rumah usang Mayat hampir reput dijumpai di rumah usang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41702437730_maut.jpg)
Mayat hampir reput dijumpai di rumah usang
Mayat hampir reput ditemui di sebuah rumah usang di Kesang Laut, berdekatan pusat timbang Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) pada Ahad.
Wanita dakwa dituduh Rafizi fail saman
Seorang wanita memfailkan saman terhadap Menteri Ekonomi, Rafizi Ramli bagi menuntut permohonan maaf secara terbuka berhubung dakwaan bahawa wanita berkenaan ialah isteri kepada bekas menteri yang dikaitkan dengan isu kapal tempur pesisir (LCS).
Bagaimanapun, Rafizi bergantung kepada pembelaan justifikasi berkata bersedia membuktikan kenyataan di mahkamah termasuk perlindungan bersyarat dan ulasan yang saksama terhadap saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh Zainab Mohd Salleh.
Bagaimanapun, Rafizi bergantung kepada pembelaan justifikasi berkata bersedia membuktikan kenyataan di mahkamah termasuk perlindungan bersyarat dan ulasan yang saksama terhadap saman fitnah yang difailkan oleh Zainab Mohd Salleh.
![Lima kedai sederet musnah dijilat api di Langkawi Lima kedai sederet musnah dijilat api di Langkawi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720579922_tbBBPPersiaranPut.jpg)
Lima kedai sederet musnah dijilat api di Langkawi
Kemusnahan dianggarkan melebihi 80 peratus struktur kedai.
![King Sing mohon maaf isu cadang Langkawi destinasi pilihan Muslim King Sing mohon maaf isu cadang Langkawi destinasi pilihan Muslim](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719659054_TiongKingSing.jpg)
King Sing mohon maaf isu cadang Langkawi destinasi pilihan Muslim
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing memohon maaf berhubung cadangan yang dibuat timbalannya, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan untuk menjadikan Pulau Langkawi sebagai destinasi pilihan Muslim.
![Keputusan bina empangan bawah tanah Langkawi selepas lakukan kajian intensif - Sanusi Keputusan bina empangan bawah tanah Langkawi selepas lakukan kajian intensif - Sanusi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/51695806889_MuhammadSanusiMdN.jpg)
Keputusan bina empangan bawah tanah Langkawi selepas lakukan kajian intensif - Sanusi
Keputusan untuk membina empangan bawah tanah di Langkawi dibuat selepas kajian intensif dijalankan oleh agensi kerajaan Persekutuan.
![Tiada keperluan mendesak bina LRT di Langkawi - Mahfuz Tiada keperluan mendesak bina LRT di Langkawi - Mahfuz](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61714475112_MahfuzOmar.jpg)
Tiada keperluan mendesak bina LRT di Langkawi - Mahfuz
Tiada keperluan mendesak untuk membina Transit Aliran Ringan (LRT) di Langkawi dan kerajaan Kedah sepatutnya memberi keutamaan kepada isu rakyat yang lain.
![LIMA '25 pada 20-24 Mei 2025, ketengah kepentingan pemain industri LIMA '25 pada 20-24 Mei 2025, ketengah kepentingan pemain industri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/71686976670_TBLima.jpg)
LIMA '25 pada 20-24 Mei 2025, ketengah kepentingan pemain industri
Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan Adly Zahari berkata LIMA '25 di pulau peranginan Langkawi, Kedah itu bertemakan Innovate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.
![Bekas banduan ragut di Klang, lari ke Langkawi sebelum diberkas Bekas banduan ragut di Klang, lari ke Langkawi sebelum diberkas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81713503637_diragut.jpg)
Bekas banduan ragut di Klang, lari ke Langkawi sebelum diberkas
Suspek diberkas kira-kira jam 12.30 tengah hari di kawasan sekitar Pekan Kuah, Langkawi sebelum dibawa pulang untuk siasatan lanjut.
![Lelaki Palestin tidak mengaku salah cederakan rakan senegara Lelaki Palestin tidak mengaku salah cederakan rakan senegara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61712644070_wargaPalestinced.jpg)
Lelaki Palestin tidak mengaku salah cederakan rakan senegara
Seorang lelaki warga Palestin mengaku tidak bersalah atas tuduhan mencederakan rakan senegaranya hingga parah bulan lalu.
![LTdL 2024 sah bermula di Langkawi tamat di Sarawak LTdL 2024 sah bermula di Langkawi tamat di Sarawak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710735442_TBlangkawijpg.jpg)
LTdL 2024 sah bermula di Langkawi tamat di Sarawak
LTdL akan kembali ke bumi Langkawi, destinasi yang akan menjadi lokasi pembukaan perlumbaan peringkat pertama.
![Cubaan lelaki Thailand seludup 14,000 pil dadah di Langkawi gagal Cubaan lelaki Thailand seludup 14,000 pil dadah di Langkawi gagal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710211579_TBDADAHjpg.jpg)
Cubaan lelaki Thailand seludup 14,000 pil dadah di Langkawi gagal
Lelaki berusia berusia 42 tahun itu ditahan di Balai Ketibaan Antarabangsa, Terminal Feri Langkawi, pada jam 2.30 petang Rabu.
![Dua projek infra bernilai lebih RM137 juta di Langkawi dijangka siap ikut masa - KKR Dua projek infra bernilai lebih RM137 juta di Langkawi dijangka siap ikut masa - KKR](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/61700208567_langkawi.jpg)
Dua projek infra bernilai lebih RM137 juta di Langkawi dijangka siap ikut masa - KKR
Dua projek infrastruktur di Langkawi bernilai lebih RM137 juta dijangka siap mengikut masa yang ditetapkan iaitu pada Januari tahun hadapan.