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Cenang Beach with new face on 2015
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Rahsia Estates Resort to expand in Langkawi
Rahsia Estates Resort, Residences and Spa, a RM300 million development in Langkawi, Kedah, is eyeing additional land for future development on the island.
The developer now has 6.89ha of land located near Kampung Temoyong which is some 15 minutes away from the airport.
Work on its first phase will start next month. Chief executive officer of Rahsia Estates Sdn Bhd, Hanizah Tun Abdul Hamid said that it is already negotiating for an additional 1.62ha of land and is looking for more land in the vicinity of Rahsia Estates development.
"We could possibly buy more land and we are open to forming joint-venture for our future projects," Hanizah said, adding that a likely partner would be one which has similar aspiration and passion for such a project.
The resort's hotel will conform to the Green Building Index. It plans to invest in enhancing the fishing jetty for the local fishing community's benefit.
The mixed hotel-residential development, expected to take three years to complete, comprises several precincts that will include both luxury villas and suites.
Precinct 1, Phase 1 - Tree Top Villas - will have six main villas with a total of 50 units. Work will start early 2012 and is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2013.
Rahsia Estates is looking at selling these units and leasing back at least 80 per cent of the units sold.
Meanwhile, the hotel component with about 116 rooms to 119 rooms will not be sold.
"Due to high material costs, we are expecting return on investment to take 12 years ... but we are working to push it to eight years," she told Business Times in an interview.
Rahsia Estates' plan is to sign a management contract with a resort manager that will run both the hotel and the villas.
The hotel, Hanizah said, is likely to be a four-star as several recent new hotel announcements on the island have been in the five-star category.
The developer, which is already in talks with several hotel operators, is keen to sign an operator that can deliver hospitality as experienced in Bali and Thailand. "The Thais and the Balinese have perfected the art of hospitality," she said.
Meanwhile, Phase 2 of Precinct 1 will see an addition of 50 villas, which will be developed at a later stage.
Precinct 3 will have 32 Cabana Villas while Precinct 4 comprises 31 units of Tree Top Chalets.
Rahsia Estates is a member of HD Concepts Consolidated Sdn Bhd group of companies. Riverbank Suites, Merdeka Plaza and the New Kuching Courts in Sarawak are among the developer's previous projects.
Read more: Rahsia Estates Resort to expand in Langkawi http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/Rashia/Article/#ixzz1eIyjQIo8
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Firefly to start KLIA-Langkawi flights from December
14 july 2011
PETALING JAYA:Firefly will commence flights from KLIA to Langkawi three times daily starting from December.
“Market research has shown there is a good demand for this sector.
“We are utilising our biggest aircraft, which has a seating capacity of 189,” the low-cost airline’s managing director Datuk Eddy Leong said in a statement yesterday.
He added that flights would depart from KLIA’s main terminal.
This would be advantageous for those arriving at KLIA on Malaysia Airlines flights and proceeding to Langkawi on Firefly.
“Our code-share agreement with MAS has facilitated interlining facilities for passenger and baggage check-through. Passengers can also collect their baggage at their final destination.”
According to the statement, passengers could opt for more savings when they purchase Firefly’s bundled set of services which include in-flight meals, seat selection and checked baggage allowance.
Firefly also flies twice daily from Subang to Langkawi and twice daily from Penang to Langkawi.
Articles From : TheStar Online
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Ancient sandstone on show in Langkawi
(05 Jun 2011)
LANGKAWI: Sandstone from Gunung Macinchang, which dates back to some 550 million years, is among the attractions at this year's Langkawi Geopark Carni-val.
Sales and exhibition committee secretariat member Norlia Mat Saad said visitors would also be able to find the island's limestone and marble on display as well as information and photographs of the geopark at the event.
“We have received encouraging response from visitors and tourists on the two-day exhibition held at Dataran Lang here since it began yesterday,” she said.
She said besides the sandstone and other displays, the event also saw 26 government department booths and 22 sales booths being set up, adding that a quiz on the geopark was also held for the public.
The carnival was organised by the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada).
Lada public relations officer Ramizi Hassan said the carnival was held in conjunction with Langkawi's fourth anniversary as part of Unesco's Global Geoparks Network since 2007.
“The carnival aims to cultivate an appreciation for nature among the people and instill in them values on how to preserve our cultural heritage,” he said.
Ramizi said 20 activities had also been planned for the carnival, including a kenduri (feast) for the people, wayang kulit (shadow puppet show) in Pulau Tuba, a guided walk in Kilim, a sales exhibition at Dataran Lang, a “geohunt” at the Pekan Rabu Complex, a lecture at the Al Hana Kuah Mosque, folk games, futsal, and beach volleyball at Taman Lagenda.
There will also be children's cultural shows, a scooter convoy, a Most Beautiful Motor contest and a cooking competition to add to the merriment.
Ramizi said he hoped the activities would help boost the Langkawi Geopark among tourists, which is the first in South-East Asia.
The geopark covers much of Langkawi, from Kilim River to Gunung Macinchang. - Bernama
Article : Star Online
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Incinerators in Pangkor and Langkawi to start operations soon
(27 April 2011)
THE incinerator in Pulau Pangkor to manage solid wastes at islands and highland areas is ready for operation while the one in Langkawi is expected to be ready for testing in July.
National Solid Waste Management director-general Datuk Dr Nadzri Yahaya said the two were among five mini incinerators which would go into operation soon.
He also said the government would need to build 11 more landfills to cope with the increasing amount of rubbish produced by Malaysians annually.
He said that in 2005, Malaysians produced 19,000 tonnes of rubbish per day which was expected to touch 30,000 tonnes by 2020.
“Presently the average Malaysian produces 0.8kg of rubbish a day,” he told a press conference at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Kuo Kuang 2 in Johor Baru last week.
Dr Nadzri said the 11 landfills would be built under the 10th Malaysia plan.
He said there were 176 landfills in Malaysia and more were needed to handle the increasing amount of rubbish.
He added that food waste made up the most amount of solid waste.
“The others include plastic waste, metals, glass and papers,” he said, adding that campaigns such as the 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) had generated a sense of awareness among the people to reduce plastic waste and paper waste.
He hoped that people would be aware of the 3R and would practise it as they need to do their part to save the earth.
Article : Star Online
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Improving Langkawi's Lures
12mac2011
ISLAND of legends, tropical paradise and duty-free haven are but a few adjectives which have been used time and again to describe the island that is Langkawi.
It is also often positioned as an archipelago of 99 islands, which in 2007 was accorded the Geopark status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for its geological history dating back some 500 million over years.
The island continues to intrigue many over its unique rock formations and rich marine life found beneath its waters.
Figures obtained from Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd (PLSB), the firm which manages and operates Langkawi's cable car rides, reflect that tourism arrivals to Langkawi (domestic and international) from 2004 to last year hovered between 1.88 million to 1.94 million with a dip in 2005 to 1.5 million.
"But it is not just up to the government alone which needs to shoulder this role since everyone has to play their part in promoting and safeguarding the island," he added.
In singling out Langkawi's beaches as an example, Ebi said if the waters and its surroundings are dirty, tourism suffers and the island will lose its foreign tourists, many of whom visit the islands just to swim in "what used to be" pristine waters.
For Briton Alison Fraser, who has lived and worked in Langkawi on and off for 14 years, the island's pull factor is as an ideal place to unwind.
"They want to live the tropical dream and they are rarely let down," said Fraser, formerly general manager of The Andaman Langkawi, who later joined Australian business partner Narelle McMurtrie to form Brand Bon Ton Sdn Bhd, which operates the Bon Ton and Temple Tree resorts in Langkawi, and also the Straits Collection in Penang.
"Most people come to live in Langkawi as they also want to live the dream and avoid the colder climates of Europe, and maybe feel it is a safer and cheaper destination to live in," she added.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when launching the island's Development Plan in Datai Bay last year, pointed out that Langkawi requires the development of new ideas to ensure it continues to secure its place as a major tourist destination in the region.
He also said that the concept of a planned development must be environmentally sound and ensures that the natural environment of the island must be preserved.
Langkawi's tourism players such as Ebi, Fraser and Berjaya Langkawi Resort general manager Graeme L. Dwyer, have their own wish lists on how Langkawi can further improve as a premier tourism destination.
"Cleanliness to the island is vital and there is a need for a better and more effective international marketing push to promote it," Fraser said.
She also highlighted the need for a proper identity to be carved out to attract tourists, as "we have had too many taglines over the years, and all are different".
Asked if enough has been or is being done by the government to improve Langkawi as a preferred tourist stop, Fraser said: "I think not. Langkawi needs a stronger and more consistent push in the international market. Like Sabah and Sarawak, it needs generic marketing efforts, maybe with one particular company or a public relations agency being employed just for that."
Pointing to the island, which spells unforgettable, memorable magical moments for varying niches of tourist markets, Dwyer feels that Langkawi needs a further push by way of a brand new annual event, which can serve as a platform for musicians around the world.
"These musicians can meet in Langkawi and promote ethnic cultural events within the Geomusic context of the rainforest, which is really a rare attraction in Langkawi. (Geomusic is often used to describe the incorporation of music, geometry, mathematics, and the alignment of ancient monuments and mounds).
"Such a move will be very much in sync with this island being declared a geopark by Unesco," Dwyer explained.
While Ebi called for greater efforts in tapping the status of Langkawi as a duty-free island resort and serve as a shopping haven for those in the northern region (by emulating the Indonesian city of Bandung), Fraser added, into the wish list, better emergency assistance, international schooling, better middle market housing, open sky policy and better connectivity with international flights landing in Kuala Lumpur.
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| February 27, 2011 16:15 PM |
Langkawi To Host Malaysian Tourism Expo
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
Protecting Langkawi’s splendour
By CHRISTINA CHIN
COME March, the Langkawi Country Code, a guideline for sustainable eco-tourism for Langkawi, will be available for all local authorities, tourism operators and stakeholders.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Langkawi branch chairman Eric R. Sinnaya said the code hoped to prevent natural attractions from being ruined by tourism so that everyone could enjoy long-term benefits.
“Tourism can really improve the locals’ standard of living but we must not kill the goose that lays the golden egg,” he said.
“We can have the greenest is- lands in the world if everyone works together.
“Two decades ago, 95% of the Langkawi islands was green — now we are down to about 60%,” he said.
He said although NGOs could prepare a guideline of best practices, the state and local authorities’ support was needed to endorse and enforce the code, adding that the ecology of Langkawi was very sensitive and needed protection.
He said the Pulau Payar Marine Park was a good example of how tourism had resulted in garbage pollution and coral damage.
The code addresses the conservation of existing tropical rainforests, mangrove forests, coastal eco-systems, bio-diversity and landscapes; garbage management; reduction of pollution and usage of natural resources and adoption of ethical business models by all parties.
The code was among the out-comes of the ‘Conservation of Bio-diversity in Langkawi through Sustainable Eco-tourism’ project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the MNS.
The project, which was initiated in October 2008, ended on Thursday.
Other activities carried out under the project were bird watching, shark spotting, green month campaign, beach cleanups, jellyfish operation at Pantai Cenang and myriad exhibitions, dialogues and seminars on fauna and flora.
The aim was to nurture, educate and empower the community to protect Langkawi’s natural heritage through a pragmatic environmental awareness, training and monitoring programme as sustainable eco-tourism practices would minimise the negative effects of tourism on bio-diversity and natural resources.
Eric said the RM145mil project was very important for Langkawi because there was low conservation awareness among the locals and those who were aware didn’t know how they could help protect the environment while helping the tourism sector grow.
Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) tourism manager Megat Shahrul Azman Abas welcomed the code.
He said that as a tourist development agency under the Ministry of Finance, Lada’s focus was to develop the 99 islands as a premier tourist destination.
“We want to practice green tourism by complying with eco-tourism practices to ensure sustainable development,” he said.
“The Langkawi Country Code is a very good effort by the MNS — it shows that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are playing their roles well by being pro-active,” he said, adding that Lada would continue working closely with the MNS.
He said Langkawi’s main draw was her natural surroundings and laidback lifestyle.
“Here, visitors feel very safe — they are not harassed by haggling traders.
“Eco-tourism activities like bird-watching and mangrove tours are very popular these days,” he said.
Tourists arrivals from January to October last year was about 1.8mil compared to more than 1.9mil for the same period this year.
Besides Europe which is Langkawi’s traditional tourist market, Middle Eastern and South Asian tourists are also flocking to the islands.
Megat Shahrul Azman also noted an increase in arrivals from Scandinavian countries.
He said Lada would target tourists from Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan next year.
Sumber : The Star
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Langkawi Targets 2.5 Million Tourists Next Year
Lada Tourism Manager Megat Shaharul Azman Abas said today the target could be achieved in view of the various national and international events to be held on the duty-free resort island in 2011.
He told Bernama that this year more than two million tourists had visited Langkawi, and next year's target could be attained easily.
Megat Shaharul said the prominent events to be held next year included the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima 2011) exhibition in December and the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) cycle race beginning on Jan 23.
Other events include the One District One Product Expo in April, the Malaysian Tourism Expo by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) in May and the International Geopark Youth Tennis in December, he said.
Megat Shaharul said Langkawi would also host the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA) Championship from tomorrow to Jan 8.
He also said that the island had been offered to host the International Tennis Futures Championship by the International Tennis Federation next year, which would feature the world's ranked players.
-- BERNAMA
RM1b for Teluk Datai Langkawi project
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LANGKAWI: State investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd, through its investee company, Teluk Datai Resorts Sdn Bhd (TDR), and partners are investing RM1 billion in the Teluk Datai master development plan that will be completed by 2014.
The five-year plan, which will see the expansion and upgrading of TDR's hotel and golf course as well as the construction of new hotels, was launched yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Najib said: "Based on the development plan for Teluk Datai, more jobs will be created for residents.
"This will increase the value of their assets and their quality of life.
Present were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar.
Langkawi, with a population of about 99,000, was identified by Dr Mahathir as a tourist destination more than two decades ago.
Najib said the development of Teluk Datai, with its pristine surrounding and beaches, was ideal to boost Langkawi's position as a premier tourist destination.
Under the plan, The Datai Lang-kawi hotel will expand to include 13 one-bedroom pool villas and one two-bedroom pool villa, while The Golf Club, Datai Bay, will be re-developed into an international golf course to host tournaments.
Najib said the construction of the villas was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2012, while the golf course would be completed in the third quarter of the same year.
Also in the plan are a 300-room five-star resort, which will be jointly developed with Shangri-La Hotels, a six-star hotel and villas for sale.
Najib said the plan would boost leisure and tourist attractions at Teluk Datai, located northwest of Langkawi and facing the Andaman Sea, to strengthen the bay's position as an international tourist destination.
TDR plans to develop only a fifth of 598ha at Teluk Datai, while the rest, comprising 100,000-year-old rainforests, will be untouched.
TDR engaged Camco South East Asia Ltd (Camco SEA), in which Khazanah has a 5.3 per cent stake, to conduct a sustainability scoping study for the project.
Camco SEA, a green energy expert listed on the AIM London stock exchange, will also design a long-term strategy on rainforest conservation as well as explore opportunities for tie-ups with local partners to conserve land.
Khazanah, in July, acquired a 70 per cent stake in TDR, which owns The Datai Langkawi, The Golf Club and the 598ha at Teluk Datai.
The remaining 30 per cent is held by its founder, Tan Sri Razali Rahman, and Datuk Hassan Abas, through Archipelago Hotels (East) Sdn Bhd.
At the launch, TDR signed an agreement with Shangri-La Malaysia to set up a joint venture to develop the five-star resort. TDR will hold a 51 per cent stake in the company while Shangri-La Malaysia will hold the balance. Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd will manage the hotel.
Khazanah executive director (investment) Mohd Nadziruddin Mohd Basri said the development would create about 3,000 jobs.
He said the arrival of more tourists would create more jobs and opportunities for residents.
"We are positive about the project. The returns must be attractive for us to attract the private sector."
He said Khazanah was considering funding options for its investment, including equity partnership and bank borrowings.
Read more: RM1b for Teluk Datai project http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/4elang/Article/#ixzz18VxXQIDb
hamisahhamid@nst.com.my
