IT is said that the mythical seven generational curse – sworn by Mahsuri, who was wrongly accused of adultery and put to death amid a Siamese invasion in the 1800s, was extinguished when the flames of tourism were lit in Langkawi in 1987.
Apparently since the 1800s, a curse did befall the island, causing its land to turn barren with burnt rice fields.
Then in 1987 former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed declared the island a duty-free port to galvanise the tourism sector. Another legend has it that the former premier, now aged 97, as it coincided with the end of the curse period.
The status had initially stimulated the fortunes in the country's first ever district fully geared for tourism, before the momentum of tourists coming over began to set in, while more investors came ashore to sustain the growth of the island.
As there are no recorded documents preserved other than tales passed on from generation to generation, the legend of Mahsuri continues to resonate here.
There is still a belief among segments of the older community that Mahsuri did exist.
The Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) has come to understand the significance of Mahsuri, as it is devoting November 26 as Hari Mahsuri (Mahsuri Day), where the tale of the pretty maiden would be showcased throughout the island.
It is a programme with the aim of showcasing the story of Mahsuri from a new and contemporary perspective through musical theatre and storytelling, said Lada chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Muttalib.
It is also to reflect on the culture of the Langkawi community – culture is seen as a big plus for tourism, especially in the country branded as ‘Truly Asia.’
But there is a worry that a curse may return, not of the mythical sort this time around, but from mother nature with the rise of climate change bringing global warming and severe weather, from flooding to landslides amid the rising sea levels.
Opportunities in sustainable tourism
Of course, the island was already reeling when Covid-19 took a major chunk of revenue from tourism, causing several hotels and other related businesses to close.
Langkawi Malaysian Nature Society chairman Eric R. Sinnaya said that there is now a sense of belief that islanders and tourists alike need to co-exist with the environment so the call for conservation and preservation is real.
It has seeped into the agenda of both the public and private sector with Lada latching onto the need for eco-tourism to flourish, in tandem with Langkawi's status as part of the 195 Unesco global geology (geo)-park networks, where the codeword is sustainability.
So, tourism needs to become quieter, reflective, and insightful, rather than just the mundane joy of merry-making or exploring the islands or jet-skiing, bearing in mind that anything done excessively would harm tourism in the long-term.
"We want tourists of the post-Covid era to appreciate the environment more. We want sustainable tourism to be a priority not just revenge, for as people yearn to travel just because they were restricted by lock downs during the pandemic," said Sinnaya.
If sustainable tourism is pursued, Tourism Langkawi president Ahmad Pishol Isahak says he is confident that tourists will stay longer and spend more money to appreciate it.
In short, the island hopes the quality of tourists would also improve in line with the plan to develop Langkawi into a preferred worldwide tourism destination, said Pishol.
Education is also an option for travel trade members to promote as a form of tourism.
Hotelier Eugene Alan Dass, who helps to organise team building events for international schools such as Uplands International in Penang, said that the potential in that area is immense.
Nasaruddin's predecessor Dr Hezri Adnan envisioned that touring Langkawi is about catching up on reading, nature walks, tasting good food and watching various cultural shows, including the retelling of Mahsuri's legend.
To experience such elements, Hezri hoped that tourists would stay longer – perhaps up to seven days compared to the present three nights average.
Touching on development, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Perlis / Kedah chapters held a dialogue with the Malaysian Airport Bhd (MAB).
Among the interesting plans are for more budget airlines to operate, connecting routes such as Alor Star-Langkawi and more domestic routes.
Langkawi MAB manager Che Sulaiman Che Pa spoke of upgrading social amenities to allow more dining and retail experiences before they board their flights.
"If connectivity is improved, tourists might be compelled to stay longer."
In Lada's quest to rebrand Langkawi as an eco-tourism haven, other than the conventional indulgences of a beach resort, the authority was recently judged this year's winner of the Brand Laureate in the Nation's Pride Best Brands Awards.
A beaming Nasaruddin together with the agency's officials, including its tourism division senior principal head Azmil Munif Mohd Bukhari received the award on Best of the Islanders – a testament to resilience in battling the pandemic.
Lada won in the tourism and destination branding category.
New hotels in Langkawi
Aside from the opening of new five-star properties in Hilton Burau Bay in 2024 and Parkroyal Resort, later this year, as well as the latest openings of the Dash Resort, Mercure Langkawi and Aloft Langkawi, two of the oldest hospitality properties have began to also reinvent themselves into premier resorts for ‘quiet tourism.’
The oldest five-star resort in Langkawi, Pelangi Beach Resort has just undergone an internal refurnishing exercise, starting with the landmark lobby, restaurant and eventually the rooms, its general manager Clement Paul said.
The resort was graced by the presence of the just passed Queen Elizabeth II during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in 1989.
Among the oldest resorts – the Holiday Villa Resort Langkawi, its general manager Leslie Pereira is overseeing an upgrading of the hotel, and it will soon welcome the setting up of a new beach bar to bring more value to its services.
"The bar will have a quiet ambiance and people can take in the scenes of Pantai Tengah, the cousin beach of the main beach spot in Langkawi-Pantai Chenang."
Holiday Villa also hosted a stage play, literacy festival and a jazz festival, as part of its efforts to support the arts and cultural scene of the island resort, Leslie noted.
In the Frangipani by the Sea affordable resort, its owner Anthony Wong Kim Fei, a noted environmentalist, has surfing as another attraction at Langkawi.
The waves in Pantai Tengah have apparently grown stronger over the decades due to the rise of the sea levels, and since Frangipani is beside it, it is logical to support an endeavour which does not harm the environment, he said. – The Vibes, September 10, 2022
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