Langkawi eyes European charters with new attractions

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Langkawi is in talks with operators to launch new charter flights, hoping its new attractions and an intensified promotions drive will help attract more Europeans this year.

Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) CEO, Khalid Ramli, said LADA is talking to European flight charter operators as there are no direct scheduled airlines connecting the destination and Europe.

Khalid said: “We are meeting with two charterers from Sweden and Finland (yesterday) to discuss with them the possibility of flying to Langkawi during summer, winter or even throughout the year. We offer charter companies a special cash incentive of US$10 per (passenger) head.”

British Airways, in the meantime, is scheduled to return to Kuala Lumpur from May this year, a development Khalid welcomed because “historically, majority of British tourists to Malaysia will visit Langkawi”.

The push for more European tourists is also due to new attractions that are expected to be of interest to Europeans. The Langkawi Sky Bridge reopened last month after two years of upgrading works. A new 3D art museum, hailed as the second-largest in the world, and teambuilding venue Langkawi Skytrex, suitable for both corporate and leisure tourists who enjoy extreme sports, are also now available.

LADA is also strengthening its position in ecotourism and nature tourism, banking on the destination’s rich variety of animal and plant life. The archipelago welcomed the 5th Asian Bird Fair in Langkawi last year and, in 2015, will host a bird and butterfly fair in October.

LADA will also introduce mangrove walk packages in the 3Q2015.

As well, it aims to market directly to European travellers through its website www.naturallylangkawi.my.

On the importance of the European market, Rosnina Yaacob, manager, tourism division at LADA, said: “Europeans love nature and they will support our efforts to ensure Langkawi develops sustainably. All of Langkawi with its 100 islands have been designated UNESCO Geopark status.”

Currently, the UK, Russia, Germany and Sweden are among Langkawi’s top 10 source markets.

-TTG Asia.