Tourism gem needs more sparkle

The introduction of night cable car rides in Langkawi last month was proof that the tourism business is thriving in the "Isle of Legends".

It is estimated that more than two million people visit Langkawi every year.

Just last week, several five-star hotels in Langkawi were almost full, thanks in part to the planeloads of Finn Air chartered flights, which have been landing since December last year.

Tourism investors appear to still have Langkawi on their radar as can be seen from the opening of new resorts on the island.

Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd, a unit of Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd, also saw the opportunity and launched night cable car rides. It expects higher revenues this year.

Although PLSB operates the profitable cable-car service, introduced in 2003, the asset owber is the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA).

LADA was set up in 1990 under the Langkawi Development Authority Act 1990, tasked to stimulate and develop infrastructures, tourism, industries, trading and residential areas.

There is much to be improved if the authority is keen to make Langkawi the top tourism destination in Malaysia.

Good starting points would be infrastructure and public transport.

The base station for the Langkawi cable car rides is located within the Oriental Village at Teluk Burau.

The village, which comprises souvenir shops, lies around a lake and set against the famed Mat Cinchang Mountain, Southeast Asia's first geopark.

The retail lots within this complex are a sorry sight when it comes to their offerings.

Besides boasting tacky tourist t-shirts and other inferior quality souvenir made in neighbouring countries, the buildings are not well maintained.

These shops, with merchandise almost mirroring each other, are shut by 6pm and do nothing to keep visitors occupied if they choose to go on the night cable car rides.

LADA needs to revive the place or hand it to a more quali-fied operator.

Given the scenic surroundings of the area and the fact that it is a good half an hour's drive into Kuah town, where most shops are located, tourism dollars can be tapped at this location.

By taking a leaf from the shopping villages in the United Kingdom and factory outlets in the US, Langkawi's Oriental Village can very easily turn into the northern region's preferred location for designer shopping outlets.

As for the lack of public transport, this must be dealt with immediately.

It is an open secret that taxi and transport operators are holding tourists to ransom by demanding almost double in fares of what they charge locals.

It boggles the mind as to why these providers are out to throw sand into their own rice bowls, since this reputation have now made their way around the globe via blogs and word of mouth.

Public transport, similar perhaps to the Rapid Penang and Rapid KL bus services, should be introduced.

These services, if offered at landing points such as the ferry terminal, airport and other points of entry, can complement the taxi and limousine services which will still be needed by visitors.

Transport experts have estimated that for every RM1 ploughed into a solid and dependable public transport system for an island like Langkawi, a multipler effect of least a RM3 can be expected.

And this is by no means small change and a positive spin-off to infuse new life into a tested and proven tourism gem.