PULAU LANGKAWI | Kedah

From flickr

Dr M Calls For Promotions To Be Stepped Up For Langkawi
February 14, 2010 18:26 PM

LANGKAWI, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants promotions to be stepped up to attract more tourists to Langkawi.

He said not enough was being done to promote the tourist destination and was confident tourists would come back to the tax-free island in droves if the matter of promotion was given added impetus.

He told this to reporters after launching the "My Ferry 2" ferry service at the Kuah Jetty here Sunday.

The RM7-million ferry operated by JMC Ferry Services Sdn Bhd can accomodate 430 passengers and is the biggest three-storey ferry operating between Langkawi and the mainland.

Dr Mahathir, who was responsible for transforming Langkawi from a backwater island to a major tourist destination, also said many Westerners especially those who had retired were attracted to Langkawi as the lower costs on the island made it ideal for a second home.

He was also happy to note that more Middle-Easterners were flocking to the island and food outlets catering for Arab tourists were mushrooming.

-- BERNAMA

Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong launches book ‘Geoforest Parks: Hanging Gardens of Langkawi’
February 13, 2010, Saturday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=10867

BANGI: The Sultan of Kedah and Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, yesterday launched the book ‘Geoforest Parks: Hanging Gardens of Langkawi’ published by the Institute for Environment and Development (Lestari) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).The book, a collection of the historical repository, legends, knowledge and the natural features of Langkawi, was produced by a group of UKM researchers led by Principal Fellow Datuk Shaharuddin Mohd Ismail and Prof Datuk Ibrahim Komoo.

The RM100 book is available at Lestari UKM.

At the same function, Tuanku Abdul Halim also launched Malaysia Knowledge Tours (MyKTours), an application which transforms knowledge from books into a format easy to retrieve and download.

The Sultanah of Kedah, Sultanah Haminah Hamidun, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak were also present at the function. — Bernama

Hotel @ Langkawi
by Marilyn Ganda



by v_v ~~ iyah~~

Langkawi International Airport
From flickr

Langkawi co-op mulls hotel venture
Published: 2010/07/10

THE Langkawi District Development Cooperative, touted to be among the country's most active cooperatives, plans to venture into the lucrative hotel industry in a move to expand business activities and to meet the demand of the Langkawi tourism industry.

Chairman Ismail Yaakob said the cooperative has identified a building beside Wisma KPD at Langkawi Mall in Kuah which it intends to acquire for RM900,000.

He said the cooperative management believed it would be a wise move to embrace the hotel industry in this tourist haven here owing to the ever growing demand for accommodation especially during festive seasons and school holidays.

Ismail however did not say when the building would be acquired but it is believed the purchase would be made soon.

Ismail said the cooperative has the experience in the hotel industry as it was providing dormitory accommodation at Wisma KPD.

The cooperative runs a Petronas oil station, undertakes contract works, operates a factory that produces tar and serves as a motorcycle sales agent.

The 3,059-member cooperative, with cumulative share capital worth RM1.399 million, has been consistently paying 10 per cent dividend for members over the last few years despite the economic slowdown. - Bernama

Jetty Point, Langkawi
Main entrance to Jetty Point, shopping mall for duty-free shopping.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/khalzuri/4833287047/in/set-72157622582501851/

Kuah Town

Plan To Make Langkawi Shine Again As Tourist Draw
August 08, 2010 14:01 PM
http://bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=519737

LANGKAWI, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The federal government plans to redevelop Langkawi's tourism potential to revive the glory days of the resort island off Kedah.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said measures would be taken under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) to enable Langkawi regain a prominent place on the tourism map.

The government would come up with a list of projects in a few months' time as part of the redevelopment plan, he said.

"Langkawi has a lot of potential but it is not fully utilised. There is much we can do, particularly with the attractive natural surroundings," he said to reporters after opening a seminar on the development of Langkawi on Sunday.

Nor Mohamed said Langkawi should rightly be a niche product for the tourism sector.

"If Thailand can boast of Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi, and Indonesia, of Bali, then surely Malaysia can be proud of its own islands, of which Langkawi is the most popular," he said.

He said the government had spent a lot in previous five-year plans to develop Langkawi's economy and had undertaken a major transformation of the island.

"Nevertheless, the government is not satisfied yet. We have to spend a little more to enable Langkawi to realise its maximum potential as a tourist draw," he said.

Nor Mohamed said the government might have to make available skillful tour agents who could target high-spending tourists, and added that there was a proposal to set up a tourism academy to train such manpower.

"We have to also resolve what seem to be small problems but which have a major impact on tourism. For example, it is said that operators of hire cars have to pay RM6,000 in insurance premiums per car annually," he said.

Nor Mohamed said there had been proposals to establish a university in Langkawi as well as hospitals to cater to tourists.

"We will look at these proposals. Medical tourism is important. Tourists who come for medical treatment demand well-equipped hospitals," he said.

On a proposal to build a five-kilometre bridge connecting Langkawi to Tuba Island in the Langkawi chain, he said the government would go ahead with the project if the cost-benefit analysis was favourable.

There are 99 islands in the Langkawi chain but only two -- Langkawi and Tuba -- are inhabited.

-- BERNAMA

Plan to revive cruise tourism
By LEE YUK PENG Sunday August 8, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/8/nation/6819508&sec=nation

LANGKAWI: Malaysia wants to take cruise tourism to new heights by becoming the “playground of the East” now that China is showing keen interest in the sector.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the Government was determined to revive the cruise tourism it started more than 10 years ago.

“Cruise tourism can be made into our frontline industry. We will be conducting more research on this.

“The whole product will take on a new dimension with China keen to be involved in cruise tourism, in and out of their country,” she told reporters at The Datai resort here on Friday.

Dr Ng was accompanying China’s Tourism Minister Shao Qiwei on a visit to Pulau Payar Marine Park after spending a night at the luxury yacht Lily Marleen, a floating hotel, here.

She said there were ports in Langkawi, Kuantan, Penang, Klang and Johor Baru, which were deep enough for yachts and cruise ships to berth.

China currently does not have high-end cruise tourism products.

Dr Ng said out of the 2.2 million foreign tourists to Langkawi last year, 130,000 were from China.

“As at May, tourists from China have increased by 5% as compared to the same period last year,” she said, adding that Malaysia will be having more promotion activities in China.

Speaking to reporters, Shao said Malaysia was one of the top tourism destinations for Chinese nationals.

12 Countries Invited For Langkawi International Junior Tennis Championships
August 18, 2010 15:09 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?cat=nt&id=522045

LANGKAWI, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Organizers of the Langkawi Geopark International Youth Tennis Championships have invited 12 countries to participate in the tournament to be held in December.

Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) Tourism Manager Megat Sharul Azman Abas said among countries invited were South Korea, Uzbekistan, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

"The invitations were sent out by the Langkawi Lawn Tennis Association who will stage the event from Dec 10-14," he told reporters after chairing an organizing committee meeting here Wednesday.

He added that 200 local and international participants are expected to participate in the various age group categories, namely 10, 12, 14 and 16, featuring boys and girls singles and doubles.

-- BERNAMA

Helicopter Service In Langkawi To Be Expanded To Other Destinations
August 28, 2010 14:58 PM

LANGKAWI, Aug 28 (Bernama) -- The helicopter ride, the latest tourism product in Langkawi, will be expanded to other destinations, including overseas.

Director of CIG Global Helicopter Tour & Services Sdn Bhd, the company which operates the service, Amirullah Abdullah, said the service would be expanded to Satun and Ko Lips in Thailand soon.

We are in the final stage of discussions with the authorities there, he told reporters at a breaking-of-fast here Friday.

Besides the two destinations, Amirullah said, the service would also be available in Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang.

He said that since the service was introduced last year, almost 2,000 tourists had taken the helicopter ride for an aerial view of the Langkawi island.

-- BERNAMA

Langkawi Needs More Direct Flights To Draw Tourists - Dr Mahathir
September 17, 2010 16:43 PM

LANGKAWI, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hopes that there will be more direct flights in and out of Langkawi to draw more tourists to this mythical resort island.

He said he had discussed with low-cost carrier AirAsia to have more direct flights into Langkawi from various destinations and hoped that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) would do the same.

"With more direct flights, tourists will be more keen to visit this duty-free island as they don't have to transit or catch a connecting flight," he told Bernama at his Aidilfitri open house, here, Friday.

Among the 4,000 people who attended the open house were Langkawi member of parliament Datuk Paduka Abu Bakar Taib, Kuah assemblyman Datuk Nawawi Ahmad and several other local Barisan Nasional leaders and local community leaders.

Also on hand to welcome the guests was Dr Mahathir's wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali.

At the moment, MAS, AirAsia, Firefly and Singapore's Silk Air operate direct flights to Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore.

Dr Mahathir also said that there was still more room to promote the island as an interesting tourist destination.

"We ask for the goverment's cooperation to promote Langkawi to the world," he said, adding that there were a number of projects still waiting for government approval before they could be implemented on the island.

Dr Mahathir has been the prime mover for Langkawi's development with several tourism products created such as the cable car, Galeria Perdana, Kota Mahsuri, Underwater World, Bird Park and Craft Complex.

-- BERNAMA

Port Of Tanjung Lembung Handles More Than 100,000 Tonnes Of Cargo
September 20, 2010 15:29 PM

LANGKAWI, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Lembung, the main port in Langkawi, handled 151,967 tonnes of cargo in the first seven months of this year.

However, it was 0.2 per cent lower than the 152,272 tonnes handled in the same period last year.

Langkawi Port Sdn Bhd General Manager Muhd Nasir Abdul Aziz said the negligble drop was due to subdued interest among entreprenuers on this resort island.

"But, we are confident interest will pick up soon," he told Bernama here today.

Muhd Nasir said among the cargo handled by the port included vegetables, marine and poultry products, essential goods, construction materials and vehicles brought in from the mainland.

The number of ships which called at the port rose 4.5 per cent to 1,323 against 1,284 ships registered in the same period last year.

Besides Malaysian ships, the port received vessels from Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

-- BERNAMA

Tanjung Lembung Port, Langkawi Island
http://www.langkawiport.com.my/

Langkawi hotels using pirated CDs
Thursday October 7, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/7/nation/7172825&sec=nation

LANGKAWI: Raids by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry found that most entertainment outlets in hotels and restaurants here are using pirated CDs.

Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) operations director Abdul Rahman Ghazali expressed the hope that these outlets would use original CDs and seek RIM’s approval to spin songs to avoid prosecution.

“RIM will continue to monitor entertainment outlets in this resort island,” he told reporters after an operation against the use of pirated CDs here last night.

Meanwhile, the ministry’s enforcement chief in Langkawi Azmi Dan said the team raided an entertainment centre and seized 73 pirated CDs and audio equipment worth RM7,000.

He said the anti-piracy operation, the first of its kind in Langkawi, was made folowing a complaint from RIM.

“Errant entertainment outlet operators can be charged under the Copyright Act 1987,” he added. — Bernama

Baron Group to build motel in Langkawi
Published: 2010/11/08
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20101108124128/Article/index_html

The Baron Group, the operator of a network of hotels and chalets in Langkawi, is to build the 80-room "de Baron Motel" to meet the demand of the growing tourism industry on the island.

Managing director, Zailina Mohd Zain said, the construction is part of a planned 300-room development, to be undertaken in stages.

"Piling works on the four-storey motel has already begun on a reclaimed site near Sungai Kuah and is expected to fully complete within a year," she told Bernama here today.

Zailina said the company will invest RM20 million to develop the entire 300 rooms in Langkawi.

Some of the rooms will be in Kuah and the rest in Pantai Cenang, she added.

The Baron Group has five hotels and chalets of three-start rating, with almost 500 rooms in Kuah and Pantai Cenang, including the de Baron Resort with 137 rooms and Hotel Baron with more than 40 rooms.

The demand for rooms in Langkawi is never sufficient during the festive season, the hosting of international events and school holidays.

Langkawi has available at present,7,200 rooms. - Bernama

Rebak Island Resort to add rooms if market is buoyant
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2010/12/08
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/irebak2/Article/



REBAK Island Resort Langkawi may consider expanding its room inventory under it if the market is buoyant.

Outgoing general manager, Samir Khanna said that the earliest this could happen is within three years. "If the market is buoyant, yes, we will expand," he told Business Times.

The resort, operated by India's Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces group, has 82 rooms and a marina.

Khanna said that when he first came on board, he realised that he had to dispel the notion that one must have a yacht to stay at the resort.

Since the entry of The Taj three years ago, this perception has changed.

Pulau Rebak (Rebak Island) is named after the rebak tree, and is one of the 99 islands around the Langkawi archipelago, situated southwest of Langkawi, 15-minute boat ride from Port Langkasuka.

The marina in Rebak was ready in 1993 followed by the resort the next year. The initial project was jointly owned by Mofaz, Sapura Holdings and the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada).

In December 1994, DRB-HICOM's unit, Hicom Indungan Sdn Bhd, bought over Sapura's stake. It now holds a stake of 75 per cent with LADA at 19 per cent and Mofaz 6 per cent.

When India's Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces came onboard, it decided to keep the identity of Rebak Island Resort due to its uniqueness.

"The Rebak name is like a trademark," Khanna said to explain why it decided to retain the name. The Taj group is part of the conglomerate Tata Group.

Managing Rebak Island by The Taj was due to DRB-HICOM's involvement in the auto industry with The Tata's.

The hospitality history of The Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces dates back to 1903. The group currently comprises almost 100 properties in worldwide locations such as India, the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, the UK, the US , Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. Future progress for Thailand and China is in place.

Apart from the Taj brand, others in the chain include Taj Air, Taj Safaris, Vivanta by Taj, The Gateway and Ginger.

Langkawi needs new impetus, says Najib
Updated: 09:36PM Wed, 08 Dec 2010
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=54896

LANGKAWI (Dec 8, 2010): Langkawi needs to have new impetus as part of the plan to be a premier tourist destination in the world, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said today.

He said that since a year ago he had discussed with several parties, especially Khazanah Nasional Berhad, about Langkawi's redevelopment process in order to fulfil former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's wish to develop Langkawi as top tourist destination.

"We want new development. Therefore, we need new impetus. The development concept must preserve the current situation and natural habitats around the island," he said in his keynote address at the official launch of Teluk Datai Resort's Development Plan at Teluk Datai, here.

Also present were Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.

Najib said the redevelopment process also should create value to the country, such as joint venture with local companies, as tourism was a major sector that the government wanted to push.

"The development is not only for Teluk Datai but for Langkawi as a whole. Many people said Langkawi is a loss after Tun Dr Mahathir's era as prime minister," he said.

He said today's event was to announce a four-in-one project, with the development of 14 units of villa as the main project.

"The second is to build a new 300-room hotel, the third an upmarket five-star to six-star hotel and the last the redevelopment of the Datai Golf Course to international standard," he said.

Najib said the development plan was a partnership between government-linked companies and private companies to create value to the project and the country.

The development projects would involve about RM1 billion to be invested in Teluk Datai via its investee, Teluk Datai Resorts Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Khazanah Nasional and also the original founders, through Archipelago Hotels (East) Sdn Bhd.

As part of corporate social responsibility, Teluk Datai Resorts has adopted Sekolah Kebangsaan Ewa under the Pintar programme. It is one of the schools in Langkawi where the most number of employees of Teluk Datai Resort send their children. — Bernama

Pelaburan RM1b di Langkawi
Oleh WAN NAJIB WAN DAUD
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1209&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_01.htm

LANGKAWI 8 Dis. - Khazanah Nasional Bhd. (Khazanah) akan melabur RM1 bilion bersama beberapa rakan kongsinya dalam tempoh empat tahun akan datang bagi tujuan pembangunan di Teluk Datai di sini.

Khazanah menerusi anak syarikatnya, Teluk Datai Resorts Sdn.Bhd. akan membuat pelaburan pembangunan 14 vila mewah berharga RM15 juta dan pembinaan sebuah hotel 300 bilik dengan kerjasama pengurusan hotel Shangri-La.

Selain itu, pelaburan itu turut membabitkan pembinaan sebuah hotel enam bintang dengan kerjasama sebuah kumpulan pengurasan hotel serta pembangunan semula padang golf yang mendapat sentuhan pemain golf profesional antarabangsa, Ernie Els.

Pengarah Urusan Khazanah, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar (gambar) berkata, pelaburan di Teluk Datai adalah komitmen berterusan bagi memacu pertumbuhan ekonomi domestik melalui pelancongan dan hiburan dari salah satu sektor utama Bidang Ekonomi Utama Negara (NKEA).

"Projek yang dilancarkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini merupakan salah satu daripada projek menaik taraf Hotel Teluk Datai iaitu pembinaan 13 buah vila mewah satu bilik dan sebuah vila dua bilik yang dijangka siap pada suku pertama 2012," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian sempena pelancaran pelan pembangunan Teluk Datai Resorts yang dilakukan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak di sini hari ini.

Khazanah pada Julai lalu menguasai 70 peratus kepentingan ekuiti di dalam Teluk Datai

Resorts, yang memiliki The Datai Langkawi Hotel, kelab golf 19 lubang, Teluk Datai dan 597.6 hektar tanah di Teluk Datai di sini.

Manakala ekuiti selebihnya dikuasai oleh Pengerusi Eksekutif Peremba (M) Sdn. Bhd. yang juga pengasas asal Teluk Datai Resorts, Tan Sri Razali Rahman dan Datuk Hassan Abas menerusi Archipelago Hotels (East) Sdn. Bhd.

Menurut Azman, komitmen Khazanah ke atas pelaburan itu bukan sahaja ingin melihat Pulau Langkawi menjadi sebuah destinasi pelancongan utama tetapi memelihara dan memulihara alam semula jadi yang ada di Teluk Datai.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Eksekutif Pelaburan Khazanah, Mohd. Nadziruddin Mohd.Basri berkata, pelaburan ke atas projek itu akan dijana menerusi pembiayaan rakan kongsi serta pinjaman menerusi bank.

Projek itu juga dijangka menjana kira-kira 3,000 peluang pekerjaan.

Sejajar dengan pelancaran pelan induk pembangunan itu, Teluk Datai Resorts turut memulakan kajian semula jajaran bagi kelab golf bagi tujuan menaik taraf padang golf sedia ada.

Selain itu, tanah sedia ada akan dikaji bagi tujuan pembangunan dan penggunaan optimum bagi tujuan pembangunan di hadapan pantai.

Pada majlis yang sama juga, Khazanah turut menandatangani perjanjian dengan Shangri-La Hotel Malaysia bagi membangunkan resort bertaraf lima bintang dan perjanjian dengan Camco South East Asia untuk menjalankan kerja-kerja kajian pemulihan dan penjagaan alam sekitar ke atas baki tanah simpanan di Teluk Datai dan projek-projek yang akan dilaksanakan.