November 4, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Langkawi is set to return to the forefront of Malaysian tourism with the announcement of a Five Year Tourism Development Master Plan for Langkawi. This plan was announced as part of the 2012 Budget, and will have an allocation of RM420 million. It aims to turn the island into an international standard tourist destination and help increase foreign tourist arrivals in the country.
It will be interesting to see the outcome of the plan and how it will benefit Langkawi and the country as a whole in the tourism sector
Among the initiatives taken were to restructure the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada), the establishment of a forest ranger team, upgrade of the museum, beach and commercial areas and a more efficient public transportation system. In the 1990s, Langkawi was heavily promoted as a tourist destination, and deservingly so, as it offers visitors beautiful beaches and pristine seas. In recent years, however, Langkawi has perhaps run out of steam, so to speak, as other regions in the country have stepped up and promoted their own unique destinations, many of which were previously unknown to visitors.
It will be interesting to see the outcome of this plan and what it will mean for tourism in Langkawi and the country as a whole.
Read the full article below:
The Langkawi Five Year Tourism Development Master Plan will boost the government’s efforts in making the island an international standard tourist destination and help increase foreign tourist arrivals in the country.
Langkawi Tourism Association deputy chairman Phisol Ishak said the master plan, when implemented well, could make Langkawi an international tourist destination known for its green attractions.
“Langkawi has the potential of an international green destination,” he told Bernama when contacted.
He was commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s announcement when tabling the 2012 Budget today, that the Five Year Tourism Development Master Plan for Langkawi would be launched with an allocation of RM420 million.
Among the initiatives taken were to restructure the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada), the establishment of a forest ranger team, upgrade of the museum, beach and commercial areas and a more efficient public transportation system.
Meanwhile, Lada general manager Datuk Azman Umar concurred with Phisol that the five-year plan for the island would boost its natural attractions.
He said the allocation was based on a tourism blue print prepared by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) under the finance ministry and it would act as a foundation to attract more investors to the island.
“This is a huge amount of allocation spreading in a five-year plan. We believe it will lure more investors to the island,” he said when contacted today.
Source: Bernama
Just spent a month on Langkawi. Panti Cenang was polluted and disgusting. I couldn’t believe that businesses could setup and operate on the beach and not be able to clean it up. The whole atmosphere of Cenang smacked of cronyism and corruption. I expected more of Malaysia, and thought they would do tourism better than Thailand but Thailand does beaches much better than Langkawi.
I’m very sorry to hear about your experience Stuart. Perhaps like many other places that are ‘famous tourist areas’, Langkawi has also succumbed to the negative side of the tourism industry. At least you cared enough to voice out your concerns, and hopefully the authorities will do something about the problem before it is too late.