LANGKAWI: Tourism players in this resort island are appealing for an immediate intervention by Transport Minister Anthony Loke to resolve insufficient passenger ferry frequency to Langkawi.
The call was made by a group of 13 tourism players who called themselves PI13 (13 industrial player) in a joint press conference here today.
The group's spokesman, Datuk Norazly Rosly, said currently, the daily average ferry trip to Langkawi (from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis) and back from Langkawi was five trips per day.
"This is very low as compared to ten trips daily before this.
"In fact, the lack of trips for the Kuala Kedah-Langkawi route should not happen because the maintenance dredging project along the cruise line has been completed last month," he said.
Norazly said the issue has been going on for a long time, thus inhibiting the entry of tourists as well as making it difficult for residents to go in and out of the mainland.
"We also wish for the ministry to immediately set up a Special Committee to deal with this issue.
"The committee can also study whether it is relevant to build a bridge or railway connecting this island and the mainland," he said.