LANGKAWI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has unveilled 18 initiatives to take the Langkawi tourism sector to greater heights in the next five years.
This includes the construction of the island's first private hospital to position Langkawi in the medical tourism niche.
In announcing this, Najib said the initiatives were meant to propel the island's tourism sector to a new paradigm which will in turn create a spillover to the people in the tourism jewel of Kedah and Malaysia.
The first initiative is the setting up of an Urban Transformation Centre in Langkawi to provide multiple government agency services under one roof for the people in Langkawi, which has proven to be the best government delivery system.
"This UTC in Langkawi will also have a one stop centre to provide fast approval for business license and permits application," Najib said in announcing the initiatives during a dinner with Langkawi tourism players at Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC).
Najib also announced a RM100 million financing facility for chalet, motel, and retail shop operators through SME Bank.
The loan amount is between RM25,000 and RM250,000 at a five per cent interest rate, with the government subsidising two per cent of the interest value.
Najib said the third initiative was the disbursement of RM5,000 grant each to 1,000 petty traders in the island which will be distributed through registered associations, beginning June 1, while under the fifth initiative, the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) will provide grants up to RM10,000 each to 200 Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Langkawi to finance small scale business.
"Under these initiatives, the Langkawi Tourism Academy's hostel will be upgraded and a new hostel building will be built at a cost of RM12 million to accommodate a higher number of students," he said.
To boost the island's position as a shopping hub, Najib announced that Langkawi will have a Premium Outlet, with a private investment of RM200 million and a business hub based on the popular Chatuchak Market model in Bangkok, to be build in Pantai Chenang.
To position Langkawi in the medical tourism niche, Najib also announced that the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) has reached an agreement with the KPJ Hospital under the JCorp to build the first private hospital in the island.
The other initiative is the development of a motocross circuit to nurture young talents in motor sport.
Najib said the meeting, incentives, conferences and exhibitions niche would be further tapped as it is on of the growing niches in the tourism sector.
"Having said that, I wish to announce that Matta (Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents) Travel Mark will be held in Langkawi this September and we will also make 2020 the Visit Malaysia Year and also Langkawi Visit Year."
Najib said the Langkawi International Airport (LIA) air bridge project was scheduled to be completed this September, and this would improve the airport's passengers capacity from 1.5 million a year to three million.
The government, he said, was also having talks with more airlines to initiate more direct flights to Langkawi.
The other initiatives are a special Wifi package; China-based company Tencent and Tourism Malaysia pledging a commitment to produce 40 promotional videos for 980 million viewers in China and 10 million viewers in Malaysia; and, the setting up of Tourism TV, with Langkawi getting a two-hour exclusive slot.
Najib also announced that the state government has agreed to initiate an amnesty programme for petty traders to allow them to register their businesses and one-year exemption for license requirement.
"MDEC (Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation) and the Malay Chambers of Commerce will also collaborate to train 1,000 digital entrepreneurs in Langkawi," he said.
Najib said the 18th initiative was the rehabilitation and conservation of the ecosystem unde
r the Unesco Geopark to ensure the sustainability of Langkawi's ecology and geology attraction.
Najib said the initiatives proved the Barisan Nasional (BN) government wanted to realise Langkawi's true potential, taking into account the projection that the tourism sector would become the world largest trade sector by 2030.
"Through these initiatives, the spillover will trickle down to the whole Langkawi community from hoteliers, but also traders the bazaars, Small and Medium Entreprises, homestay operators, taxi drivers, tour guides and so on.
"We also want the Langkawi people to enjoy a higher standard of living in future, because if tourism is improved, the infrastructure and the lifestyle and other aspects of life will also improve," he said.
The Langkawi tourism sector generated RM6.5 billion revenue from the 3.67 visitors recorded last year.