‘Langkawi’s reputation as tourist spot at risk if ferry services not improved’

ALOR STAR – A call has been made to urgently improve ferry services to Langkawi to ensure the safe and comfortable transport of people and goods as the tourism industry on the island fully reopens.

The Malaysian Association of Hotels’ (MAH) Kedah/Perlis chapter has expressed concern over growing complaints on the services, warning that the resort island’s reputation as a leading tourism destination is at risk due to ferry services having deteriorated over time.

Claiming to have experienced himself how terrible the service was recently, MAH chapter chairman Eugene Alan Dass said that good service and sound jetty facilities are important, as these are the first impressions tourists would have when coming to Langkawi.

Dass said that he underwent a torrid experience as he felt seasick when he took the ferry with many other passengers. He said the ride was rough to the extent that luggage began to tumble from compartments, and those aboard rushed for plastic bags and made a beeline for the toilets to cope during the journey.

Some passengers then needed to wait for 45 minutes before they could disembark as the crew scrambled to clear the luggage, he added.

Other complaints were related to passengers being stranded for several hours when the ferries encountered maintenance issues, broke down mid-trip and the inconsistent timing of trips.

The issue has apparently caused some passengers to scrap their holidays to the island.

The ferry services are the main mode of transport into the island, besides flying.

But in recent months, as services waned due to a few factors, more tourists prefer to fly rather than take the ferries, except those who reside in Kedah and Perlis who find it is easier to board the ferries from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis in their respective states.

This was evident when, last September, Kedah revealed that there were 8,587 tourists who came to Langkawi by air, while only 4,020 used the ferries.

Besides passenger ferries, there are also cargo ships and roll-on and roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries, which transport people and road vehicles.

The Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) in January decided to fine three major Langkawi Ro-Ro operators RM2.2 million for forming a price-fixing cartel.

According to MyCC, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had instructed the commission to investigate an increase in the prices of goods and services in Langkawi.

It was determined that the price hikes were mainly due to higher fares for commercial vehicles using Ro-Ro ferries between Langkawi and Kuala Perlis.

“We need to ensure that the ferries maintain the top services, unlike what is happening now when the trips are marred by overcrowding and there are limits to the trip frequencies,” Dass said.

Before the pandemic struck in early 2020, the ferries used to operate every hour between 7am and 7pm. 

Now they run just three or five trips daily, although during the just concluded Hari Raya Aidilfitri break, it had increased to five trips.

Dass suggested that newer ferry models be purchased and the frequency of trips be increased for the authorities to allow more ferry operators to offer services to make it competitive.

“By having more operators, the services can generate more sales and there would be a spillover effect in terms of more ferry passengers (tourists) coming over, and hotels can also record higher occupancy rates, especially for properties in the Kuah township.”

It is learnt that the Langkawi Ferries Consortium has submitted a proposal to the Transport Ministry to increase fares by 30% due to higher maintenance costs and the fact that tourist arrivals are seasonal.

But the ministry has put it on hold, as it waits for tourism to fully recover first.

The operators also faced difficulty navigating due to the low tide phenomenon, particularly in Kuala Perlis and, at times, the mud from the sea has caused ferry engines to stall.

The consortium’s Human Resources and Operations manager Baharin Baharom confirmed that a proposal was sent to the ministry regarding a fare hike. They were also seeking for the authorities to resume diesel fuel subsidies to enable them to offer more daily trips.

One-way ticket fares from Kuala Kedah cost RM23 and from Kuala Perlis the price is RM18, while trips from Penang have been suspended indefinitely.

Former Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Kedah chapter president Ahmad Pishol Ishak said that the authorities had opened the sector for more investors to participate in providing ferry services but there were no takers.

Hence, the formation of the consortium of six operators to provide such services in the early 2000s.

However, over time, they were unable to improve their services, with the fleet left ageing, while climate change began to disrupt sea levels and land activities began to wash down sediments into the sea.

This caused low tides to happen more frequently, said Pishol.

He urged the ministry to come up with a better plan, agreeing with Dass that this is important as tourists experience the ferries first before arriving on the island. – The Vibes, May 22, 2022