Was the travel bubble a successful idea? Investigation of Muslim-friendly budget hotels in Langkawi

During COVID-19 pandemic, various tourism activities were banned to prevent the widespread of the virus. Travel restrictions had a negative impact on the tourism sector. To save the travel industry, the Travel Bubble program was initiated in some destinations. In Malaysia, Langkawi Island was chosen as the pilot Travel Bubble program which started on September 16, 2021. This study aims to investigate the impact of the Travel Bubble, particularly on Muslim-friendly budget hotels, in two situations: during and one and a half years after the launching of Travel Bubble program. A qualitative method with semi-structured interviews was conducted with seven Muslim-friendly Budget Hotel managers. The findings revealed that the Travel Bubble program was initially helping boost the tourism sector. However, it only benefits several hotels, while others are still struggling. This research highlights the need to promote Muslim-friendly budget hotels’ survival. It contributes to national and local planning, particularly in the tourism sector in Langkawi.