Langkawi's Geopark Status To Attract More Tourists
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ENCHANTING… Kilim Geoforest Park is one of the three geoforest parks found Langkawi that is rich in its biodiversity of flora and fauna. Pix: Anuar Isman |
By Mahanum Abdul Aziz
LANGKAWI, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The number of annual visitors to the legendary island of Langkawi is expected to double from the current two million tourists with the rebranding of the island into a geopark or Langkawi Geopark, says the general manager of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Datuk Kamarulzaman Abdul Ghani.
He said LADA, which is actively carrying out infrastructure development projects in the island, aimed to double the tourist number in five years time.
Its listing by the UNESCO on the world's list of geoparks this year is expected to further attract more people to the island.
A total of 1.6 million tourists visited the island between January and September this year and the figure is expected to go up 2.3 million people by the end of this year. This will make it the highest number of tourists to the island recorded so far.
"We hope the infrastructure projects and several new products under Langkawi Geopark will attract more tourists in the future," he told Bernama at the sideline of the Regional Conference On Asia Pacific Geoparks and Business Dialogues held at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre, here today.
Langkawi, the 52nd geopark in the world, became the first in South East Asia to be listed under the UNESCO's list of world geoparks in June this year.
Langkawi Geopark comprises 99 islands and is also the first such island park with a duty-free status.
Kamarulzaman said the concept of a geopark island was not only about its geology but also involved the participation and activities of the people living in the island.
Langkawi, besides its scenic beauty, rich biodiversity of flora and fauna and various types and formation of stones, has three geoforest parks, namely Machincang Geoforest Park, Geoforest Park Kilim and Geoforest Park Dayang Bunting.
"The listing of Langkawi Geopark on the world geoparks list has opened up a new market in the country's tourism sector as the island will not only attract nature lovers but also scientists, geologists, and students from all over the world," he said.
On its latest geopark product, Pulau Tuba, Kamarulzaman said infrastructures will be set up in the island to make it convenient for tourists wishing to visit the island.
Among the works being carried out at the island is the building of access road and a viewing gallery at Gua Wang Buluh, a coastal path and a bridge for motorcyclists, connecting the island with Selat Bagan Nyior on Pulau Dayang Bunting.
Other works under the geopark project include the establishment of trails and access paths along the lake in Tasik Dayang Bunting and forest trails to Tasik Langgun.
"LADA has received a special fund of more than RM16 from the Ministry of Finance this year to carry out various projects under Langkawi Geopark," Kamarulzaman said.
LADA was established by the Federal Government in 1990 to undertake the development of Pulau Langkawi.
-- BERNAMA
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