LANGKAWI must be rebranded and promoted if the island is to return to its heyday as a must-visit tourist destination, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) said.
MAH Kedah and Perlis chapter chairman Eugene Dass brought up the government's 2017 plan to turn Langkawi into the "Monaco of the East."
"What happened to those plans? If there is a development blueprint, then they should go ahead with it. What are the authorities doing to move forward?" Dass asked.
Dass was referring to a news report that Penang is attracting more visitors than Langkawi.
He said Langkawi should not be be compared to Penang.
“I do believe that Penang is thriving. But we cannot compare Penang with Langkawi as the former is a city with a bigger population.
“Penang also has better accessibility with its two bridges, ferry services and flights," he said.
Dass said Langkawi needs to be rebranded to give visitors what they want.
He said the authorities must provide clarity on public alcohol consumption and the appropriate beachwear in Langkawi.
"The hotels are always getting enquiries on these two matters," he said.
He also said the authorities should capitalise on Langkawi being a geopark .
"We need to rebrand the geopark status and make it more enticing to visitors."
Regulate illegal accommodations
Another problem in Langkawi is the increasing number of unlicensed short-term rental accommodations (STRA).
“Are people frequenting Langkawi? The answer is yes. But whether they are staying in the hotels is another issue.
“If they stay in licensed accommodation, then it's fair, but if they support illegal premises, it's bad for the industry.
“The relevant local authorities, the local tourism management should look at ways to license them," Dass said, adding there could be more than 300 illegal STRA in Langkawi.
As for hotel occupancy for the first quarter, Eugene said that on average they are doing 58% to 60%.
“Compared to the same period last year, there is a slight increase of 7%.
"Of course, the five-star (hotels) are doing better because of foreign tourists, while the smaller members (three-star) are having challenges with the STRA.” – May 23, 2024.
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