Najib wants Langkawi to be ‘Monaco of the East’

LANGKAWI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants more effort be put in to turn Langkawi into a high-net worth tourist destination in the region.  

Speaking during the Langkawi Tourism Awards 2015 ceremony here Friday, he said efforts to turn the island as the "Monaco of the East" for well-heeled tourists should be done while maintaining its attraction for mass tourism.  

"I would like to see Langkawi emerge as the 'Monaco of the East' for high-net worth tourists, while maintaining its appeal for mass tourism.  

“I would like to see two-tier development for Langkawi, one for mass tourism and another one for high-net worth tourists," Najib said.  

He said turning Langkawi as a high-end tourist destination for deep-pocketed tourists would spur numerous multiplier effects to the local economy such as creating high-paying jobs.  

According to the Prime Minister, there are pockets of high-end tourist destinations in Langkawi such the St Regis luxurious hotel. He, however, said the development for that kind of destinations need to enhanced.

Langkawi's St Regis hotel, known for its luxury rooms and facilities, would open its doors to customers in April next year, said Najib, bringing along a Michelin-star restaurant to the island.

The Prime Minister also cited terrorist attacks suffered by other tourist destinations like what happened in Sharm-el Sheikh in Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and other places.

"Langkawi should remain peaceful, safe and secure and efforts should be made to maintain it," Najib said and in jest, added that he hoped that there were no supporters of the so called Islamic State militants or Daesh terrorists in Langkawi. - BERNAMA