Najib: Langkawi needs push to draw more tourists

LANGKAWI: Langkawi needs new impetus to become a premier tourist destination in the world, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said. He said that since last year, he had discussed with several parties, especially Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the issue of Langkawi’s redevelopment process in order to fulfil former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s wish to transform the island into a top tourist destination. “We want development. Therefore, we need new impetus. “The development concept must preserve the current situation and natural habitats around the island,” he said in his keynote address at the official launch of Teluk Datai Resort’s Development Plan at Teluk Datai here yesterday.

Also present were Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Khazanah Nasional managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar. Najib said the redevelopment process should also create value to the country, such as joint ventures with local companies, as tourism was a major sector that the Government wanted to push. “The development is not only for Teluk Datai but for Langkawi as a whole. Many people said Langkawi was a loss after Tun Dr Mahathir’s era as prime minister,” he said. He said yesterday’s event was to announce a four-in-one project, with the development of 14 villas as the core.

“The second is to build a 300-room hotel, the third an upmarket five- or six-star hotel and the last, the redevelopment of the Datai golf course to international standard,” he said. Najib said the development plan was a partnership between government-linked companies and private companies to create value to the project and the country. The projects would involve RM1bil to be invested in Teluk Datai via its investor, Teluk Datai Resorts Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Khazanah Nasional and the original founders, through Archipelago Hotels (East) Sdn Bhd. As part of its corporate social responsibility, Teluk Datai Resorts has adopted Sekolah Kebangsaan Ewa under the Pintar programme. It is one of the schools in Langkawi where most employees of Teluk Datai Resort send their children.
— Bernama