PULAU LANGKAWI | Kedah

Malaysia Aims To Become Best IODA WSC Host
December 22, 2010 17:04 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=551880&cat=nt

LANGKAWI, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is confident of becoming one of the best host for IODA World Sailing Championship (WSC) at National Yachting Training Complex here from Dec 28-Jan 8 2011.

Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) general manager Mohd Afendy Abdullah said about RM3mil was spent on preparation including turning a hotel into a sports village.

"We are ready to host the world's biggest sailing event which is just one week away," he told Bernama here Wednesday.

He said 57 countries have confirmed participation including Brazil, Peru, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Some 252 sailors would be competing in the championship with each country represented by five sailors.

-- BERNAMA

Ironman Langkawi Hoping For Sports Ministry Bail Out
December 19, 2010 17:25 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=551167&cat=nt

LANGKAWI, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Plagued by financial difficulties, organizers of the Ironman Langkawi Malaysia Triathlon are hoping the Ministry of Youth and Sports will take over the event for 2011.

Ironman Langkawi's event director Datuk A. Chandrakumanan said discussions would be held with the ministry soon.

"An appeal letter will be forwarded to the ministry soon," he told Bernama when contacted on Sunday.

Chandrakumanan said the reason for the takeover request was due to lack of support and financial assistance for Ironman Malaysia Sdn Bhd, to organise such a mega event.

"Every year the cost of organizing the event which is into its 11th edition, requires at least RM3 million to cater for the overall expenditure which include prize money, food, transport, accommodation and staff," he said.

He hoped the ministry would consider the takeover proposal since the event had been a major championship that helped promote the country globally.

Ironman Langkawi which normally attracts top class competitors from around the world is an event that comprises three grueling main disciplines - swimming 3.8km, cycling 180.2km and a 42km run.

The event also acts as a qualifying championship for the World Championships held in Kona, Hawaii every year.

Chandrakumanan said organising the event had largely contributed to the promotion of the country and the tourism industry, believed to be worth between RM20 to RM30 million in revenue.

He added that the 12th edition of the championships that was scheduled for Feb 27, may have to be postponed due to the financial difficulties.

-- BERNAMA

Starwood's 4th hotel in Langkawi to open Jan 1
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2010/12/27
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/i4lgk/Article/



STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc, which operates brands like Westin, Le Meridien and W, is set to open its fourth hotel in Langkawi on January 1 2011.

The hotel - Four Points by Sheraton - will join the already established group brands on the island, The Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa and The Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort.

Starwood also started operating The Andaman a Luxury Collection Hotel, at the end of 2009.

Regional vice president Southeast Asia Chuck Abbott said the hotel is scheduled to open on January 1 2011 with a limited number of rooms.

In an interview with Business Times, he said the hotel may open as early as December 29 2010.

The hotel, previously the Langkasuka Beach Resort located in Kuala Muda, Mukim Padang Matsirat, closed its doors and underwent a RM12 million renovation over a four month period.

Abbot said as the first international branded four-star property in Langkawi, it is confident that the Starwood preferred guests programme (loyalty programme) and Starwood distribution channels will be able to drive positive occupancy in the first year.

"Our team is already receiving many enquires and requests from local and international companies that are excited about this addition to the Langkawi market," he said.

"We are very excited about our growing footprint in Langkawi, particularly with the addition of the Four Points by Sheraton brand which introduces a great value product into Langkawi.

He said Starwood is fortunate that all four brands will compliment the diversity of the destination, each individually creating unique and memorable experiences for the meeting and incentives market and peaceful location or family option for the leisure traveller.

Starwood which has nine hotel brands, including Sr Regis and Aloft, has no plans for additional brands in Langkawi at this stage but is looking at another development in Malaysia.

The Four Points Langkawi has 214 rooms, including 12 Lanai rooms with direct garden access, 12 junior suites and eight executive suites with balconies overlooking the Andaman Sea.

All rooms feature 42 inch LCD TV screens, private balconies with sitting area, modern bathrooms with separate shower and bath.

Facelift For Kuah Taxi Stand
February 20, 2011 17:34 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=565032&cat=nt

LANGKAWI, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The taxi stand in Kuah town will get another facelift to provide comfort and make it attractive to visitors coming to the resort island.

Vice-chairman of the Langkawi Hire Car Owners and Drivers Association, Mohd Adnan Md Salleh said the move was being made as the terminal was the focus of travellers as it was located in the heart of Kuah town.

"It is hoped that the Langkawi Municipal Council can assist in providing public toilets and planting flowers," he said after the handing over of two 'pondok wakaf' of public shelters costing RM20,000 donated by the Langkawi Member of Parliament Datuk Paduka Abu Bakar Taib to the association, here Sunday.

Mohd Adnan said the two public shelters would give comfort to the tourists while waiting for the taxis besides giving shade to taxi drivers.

There are1,000 taxis operating in Langkawi.

-- BERNAMA

Lada Promotes Wedding Packages, Movie Locations In India
February 28, 2011 15:45 PM

LANGKAWI, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Wedding packages and movie locations were promoted by the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) during a one-week tourism mission in India which ended yesterday.

Lada tourism principal assistant manager Azmil Munif Bukhari said the promotion, which was conducted jointly with Tourism Malaysia in Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and New Delhi, received an overwhelming response.

"India was chosen due to the growing Indian tourist arrivals in Langkawi. We had received many bookings for wedding packages during the visit," he told Bernama here.

A total of 42,655 Indian tourists visited Langkawi last year compared to 25,58 in 2009.

-- BERNAMA

Langkawi To Host Malaysian Tourism Expo
February 27, 2011 16:15 PM

LANGKAWI, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Langkawi will hold the Malaysian Tourism Expo (MTEX) 2011 in May.

The four-day expo, beginning on May 22, will be held at the Langkawi Mahsuri International Exhibition Hall in Padang Matsirat.

MTEX joint chairman Pishol Ishak said so far more than 30 countries such as China, the Middle East and European countries had confirmed their participation.

"We expect to receive 200 participations from abroad," he told Bernama.

He said 20 hotels of three to five-star ratings in Langkawi would participate in the Expo organised by the Malaysian Association of Travel and Tour Agensies (Matta) by providing rooms for accommodation.

MTEX was first held in Melaka in 2007 followed by the one in Kuala Lumpur in 2008.

-- BERNAMA

Adventure, New Attraction At Mardi Agrotech Park Langkawi
March 01, 2011 12:07 PM

LANGKAWI, March 1 (Bernama) -- Adventure activities have become a new attraction at the Mardi Agrotechnology Park in Lubuk Semilang, Ulu Melaka here.

Its manager, Hassim Mat, said the package, which started today in collaboration with a tour operator, would take place at the park's four-hectare Tropical jungle area.

"This is part of the activities to promote park programmes here to attract more tourists," he told Bernama, here.

The new package is the fourth introduced at the park after the farm visit, camping and learning activities.

He said Mardi targeted to attract 60,000 tourists to the 25ha park this year compared to 45,000 last year.

-- BERNAMA

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Plan to transform Rebak Island into unique retreat
Published: 2011/03/29
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/irbk2/Article/

Rebak Island Resort, on a 158ha private island off Langkawi, is planning to enhance the island to attract more guests.

The resort, 75 per cent-owned by DRB-HICOM Bhd's unit Hicom Indungan Sdn Bhd, is looking at developing private beaches for guests and opening a wellness spa.

Rebak Island Resort, in which Langkawi Development Authority and Mofaz have a 19 per cent and 6 per cent stake respectively, is managed by Indian luxury hotel chain Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces.

General manager Mahesh S. Aiyer said these plans are likely to be completed in the next two to three years.

"Rebak is a unique private island. In sync with the positioning of a private island, we need to extract the potential of the island," he said during an interview with Business Times.

For a start, it plans to open an additional restaurant serving Asean and Japanese cuisine.

It is also looking at a yoga retreat and a restaurant serving organic food.

Subsequently, it may also develop two private beaches and set up a spa complex aimed at capturing not only guests from its resorts but also tourists from the main island.

Rebak Island, he said, will be transformed into a rejuvenation spot where unique activities can be conducted such as a cooking holiday and for photography enthusiasts.

Eco-tourism focus, flights to boost Langkawi
2011/04/10
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/23tour/Article

LANGKAWI: Several proactive measures are being drawn up to give a new lease of life to Langkawi's flagging tourism industry.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said focus would be given to the development of eco-tourism considering Langkawi had several advantages and uniqueness.

"In the last few years, the island's tourism industry has been rather gloomy or in the doldrums compared with other tourist destinations like Bali and Phuket.

"Besides eco-tourism, there are also efforts to increase the number of scheduled and chartered flights from various destinations, and the frequency of boat trips from Penang to Langkawi," he said after attending a meeting on drawing up a plan to develop Langkawi more effectively, here yesterday.

Nor Mohamed said the cleanliness of ferries plying between Langkawi and Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah would also be looked into.

He said the government was confident that Langkawi could be a tourist destination that was comparable to Hawaii, Bali and Phuket.

He added that close cooperation among various quarters like the Economic Planning Unit, Langkawi Development Authority, Tourism Ministry and the state government was important to successfully develop the resort island.

The closed-door meeting was also attended by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, representatives of several government departments, agencies and tourism operators. -- Bernama

Govt planning measures to boost Langkawi’s tourism industry
Posted on April 11, 2011, Monday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=118125

LANGKAWI: The government is planning several proactive measures to give a new lease of life to Langkawi’s tourism industry.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said focus would be given to the development of eco-tourism as Langkawi had several advantages and uniqueness.

“For example, Langkawi has 500 species of butterflies compared to Australia which has 200.

“However, in the last few years, the island’s tourism industry has been rather gloomy or in the doldrums compared to other tourist destinations like Bali and Phuket,” he said after attending a meeting on drawing up a plan to develop Langkawi more effectively, here, yesterday .

“Another effort will be increasing the number of scheduled and chartered flights from various destinations, and the frequency of boat trips from Penang to Langkawi.”

Nor Mohamed said the cleanliness level of the ferries plying between Langkawi and Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah would also be raised for the comfort of passengers.

He said the government was confident that Langkawi could be a tourist destination that was comparable to Hawaii, Bali and Phuket.

He added that close cooperation among

various quarters like the Economic Planning Unit, Langkawi Development Authority, Tourism Ministry and the state government was important to successfully develop the resort island.

The closed-door meeting was also attended by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, representatives of several government departments and agencies, and tourism operators. — Bernama

Panorama Langkawi in rebranding exercise
By Marina Emmanuel Published: 2011/04/14
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/carcc/Article/index_html

LANGKAWI: A geo-tourism product, which will enhance technology and educational elements, along with improved jungle-trekking activities are among several sub-brands which will be unveiled by Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd as part of its brand restructuring exercise.

The company, a wholly-owned unit of Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd, currently operates the Langkawi cable car system.

As part of its rebranding exercise, it also unveiled yesterday its new tagline, "Welcome to Happiness".

"Langkawi Cable Car has been the island's flagship brand for a decade, but the time has now come for Panorama Langkawi to be brought to the forefront of public attention as our main brand," the company's chief operating officer Ebi Azly Abdullah told reporters during a media gathering here .

He said Panorama Langkawi is now in talks with a telecommunications provider and local university to set up a collaborative arrangement for the project.


"By partnering these two parties, we will be able to develop the content and facilities required for this new product, which we are touting as Malaysia's first," Ebi Azly said without elaborating.

Ebi Azly said with the brand restructuring of the company's assets, which include the cable car and a 700-metre-high curved bridge, Langkawi Cable Car will be better positioned to host its present and future products.

"By rebranding ourselves as Panorama Langkawi," he noted, "present and future world-class products can be parked comfortably as sub-brands.

"We are now at the threshold of change and this rebranding exercise will also see the inception of a completely new brand identity, which in the months to come, will transform our venue into a more tourist-friendly destination."

Panorama Langkawi recorded some 700,000 paying visitors last year and the company plans to topple the figure this year said Ebi Azly, by re-designing its venue, adding more revenue-generating products and launching an aggressive marketing campaign.

In unveiling the new logo which is underscored by the letter "P", Ebi Azly said it is designed in a manner which is reminiscent of a young shoot of leaf.

"The new logo and tagline will be applied extensively in all our communications materials, including advertising and merchandising.

"We want our target market to know that when they come here, they will experience a sense of happiness which is defined by two world-class infrastructure projects, the world's steepest cable car ride and one of the world's most spectacular observation bridges which connects the tips of two mountains at 700 metres above sea level."

Pemandangan udara mercu tanda Pulau Langkawi, Dataran Helang

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Service down for maintenance
Tuesday April 26, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/4/26/north/8550356&sec=North

THE Langkawi cable car service, which goes up to the top of Gunung Mat Chinchang in Burau Bay, is temporarily closed for its regular maintenance from now till Saturday.

The yearly maintenance on the cable car’s tower one and tower seven started on April 17 and will complete on April 30.

The project is led by Panorama Langkawi head of operations and maintenance Maklen Ali together with consultant specialists from the cable car designer, Dopple-mayr, Austria.

Panorama manages and operates the cable car system.

In a statement, the company said the maintenance would be on repair and replacement of worn-out parts.

Normal service is expected to resume on Sunday.

Langkawi cable car

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewestinlgk/5536063199/

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2008-06-17_11-53-22_054 by Anthony Loh, on Flickr

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Lada Targets 200,000 Arab Tourists For Langkawi
May 11, 2011 16:18 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=585621&cat=nt

LANGKAWI, May 11 (Bernama) -- The Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) hopes to attract 200,000 tourists from the Arab countries within the next three years.

The principal assistant manager of tourism, Lada, Azmil Munif Bukhari, said in order to meet the target, Lada together with hotel operators, tour agents and tourism product entrepreneurs had carried out integrated promotions in the Middle East.

He said that the latest promotion, "Arabia Travel Mart" in Dubai recently with Tourism Malaysia, had received positive response.

The promotion exercise was led by Lada general manager, Datuk Azman Umar, and participated by 10 tour operators, hotels, agents and tourism product entrepreneurs.

-- BERNAMA

Geopark carnival offers various events
Wednesday May 18, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/5/18/nation/8702097&sec=nation

LANGKAWI: More than 10 events are planned for the Langkawi Geopark Carnival 2011 from May 31 to June 4.

The carnival is organised in conjunction with the fourth anniversary of the listing of Langkawi in the Global Geopark Network by Unesco.

Langkawi Development Authority public relations officer Ramizi Hassan said the carnival, with the theme “Savouring the Nature, Nurturing the Culture”, would include a kenduri rakyat (community feast), puppet show, geohunt photorace, guided walk and a cultural performance by children.

The geopark, which is the first in South-East Asia, covers much of Langkawi, from Kilim River to Matcincang Mountain. - Bernama

Langkawi And Jeju To Cooperate
June 02, 2011 17:06 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=591023&cat=nt

LANGKAWI, June 2 (Bernama) -- Langkawi and Jeju Island authorities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop their geoparks.

Langkawi Development Authority general manager Datuk Azman Umur said on Thursday the MoU covered sharing of technology and information and would also include cooperation in education.

"We will make full use of the MoU to bring Langkawi Geopark to the international level," he said.

He said that Lada assistant manager Hanafi Ahmad led a seven-man delegation to South Korea for the signing last week.

Five of the delegation members were from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which will have a student exchange programme with Korean academic institutions.

The geopark, which encompasses the 99 islands in the Langkawi chain, is the first geopark in Southeast Asia and was recognised by Unesco, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in 2007.

Jeju Island will celebrate its first anniversary as a Unesco-recognised geopark in October.

-- BERNAMA