Kedah: The Kedah government is committed to further developing Pulau Tuba as a premier tourist destination alongside Langkawi. State Tourism, Culture and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin highlighted Pulau Tuba's potential, emphasizing its attractive tourism products and affordable cuisine, though acknowledging the need for improved services on the island.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Salleh has tasked Kedah Tourism with conducting management courses for tourism industry players on Pulau Tuba this year. The objective is to enhance the quality of services offered, ensuring Pulau Tuba can compete as a top-tier destination. Mohd Salleh expressed pride in Langkawi's tourism products, which recently won four awards at the Tourism Industry Awards 2026, organized by the Malaysian International Tourism Development Association (MITDA).

Kedah's accomplishments at the awards, with seven accolades in total, are seen as a testament to the state's competitive edge in tourism. Mohd Salleh addressed past negative perceptions of Langkawi, attributing them to propaganda aimed at undermining the state's tourism industry. He emphasized that the recent recognition marks the first time mainland Kedah's tourism products have been acknowledged, highlighting the state's growing appeal.

Looking ahead, Mohd Salleh hopes Kedah's tourism sector will continue to attract strong interest from both domestic and international tourists within the next one to two years. Earlier, he attended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony involving JetAsia (M) Sdn Bhd, the Kedah Tourism Development Cooperative (KKPK), and Kedah Tourism, focusing on EduTourism.

The collaboration aims to bring more international students to Kedah to experience its educational, cultural, agro-tourism, and heritage offerings. With 11 strategic partners involved, the initiative seeks to leverage Kedah's diverse tourism products to attract a global audience.