KEYNOTE & LAUNCHING ADDRESS BY YAB MENTERI BESAR KEDAH
Yang Teramat Mulia Dato’ Seri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz binti Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tuanku Abdul Halim Mua’adzam Shah;
Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Kamarulzaman Abd. Ghani, General Manager, Langkawi Development Authority, and wife
Yang Berbahagia Prof
Dato’ Ibrahim Komoo, UNESCO GGN Committee Member
Honorable Guest, Department Heads of Government And Non-Governmental Organizations, Conference Delegation, Members of the Press and Media,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good Evening
First of all, I wish to extend a warm welcome to all delegates from various countries as such from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philipines, India, Iran, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, Japan, Australia, Korea, Kenya, France, Spain, Greece, and Ireland for being able to be with us. I would also like to congratulate LADA, UKM, Jabatan Mineral & Galian, Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia for Organizing the 1st Regional Conference on Asia-Pacific Geoparks & Business Dialogue here in Langkawi, Malaysia
I was made to understand there are about 30 papers presented, while about 20 countries involve in this Conference.
I hope with this Conference’s theme “Networking Between National Geopark” it will further promote Langkawi Geopark as a premiere tourist destination and at the same time will enable us to build a better and greater understanding between our countries in protecting our natural environment.
It also provides an invaluable opportunity for networking and fruitful contacts between players in the tourism industry and between our Governments (or G to G)
As you know, Langkawi has a complete and excellent infrastructure developed over the years, and we strive to improve to ensure the success of the tourism industry in Langkawi.
It is important to note that these developments have significant impact on the environment and the people. However, with careful planning and controlled project implementation, the environment of Langkawi Geopark would remain intact and geoheritage will be preserved.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The announcement of Langkawi as a Geopark on June 2007, has made Langkawi the first Geopark in South East Asia and Malaysia. The declaration by UNESCO marks another milestone to Langkawi being a premier tourist destination in this region under the geopark brand.
Langkawi is one of the unique island geoparks with 99 island and the region’s oldest rocks which can be found within the island, dating back more than 550 million years.
The Government of Kedah has always supported Langkawi being the tourist destination since its declaration as a Duty Free Port in 1987 right to the date when it was declared as a Geopark today.
Up to September 2007, the tourist arrival for this year has reached to 1.6 million. I am sure by the end of this year we will receive more than 2.3 million tourists, the highest figure ever recorded for Langkawi, which we can attribute to the rebranding of the Langkawi as the Langkawi Geopark.
With the Visit Kedah Year in 2008, we hope to receive more international tourists to this State and to Langkawi Geopark as well. In order to achieve this, greater cooperation from various Government and Private bodies is encourages.
I’m sure the establishment Langkawi as a Geopark within the Asia Pacific region will help in promoting the Visit Kedah Year 2008. At the same time, the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 as been extended to August 2008, so we have a grand celebration next year.
Ladies and Gentlemen
For your information, in this state of Kedah, the total forested area is estimated at 345,000 hectares (approximately 37% of the total land in the state), and about 342,000 hectares of the reserved and forested land have been gazetted as Permanent Reserved Forest which will be sustainably managed.
In Langkawi, about 60% is under forest reserve. The Government of Kedah has long recognized the important role of these reserve land in the socio-economic development, environmental protection, and the preservation of its invaluable genetic recourses of wild flora and fauna.
On this occasion, I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the State Government of Kedah and LADA to continue and enhance the sustainable management and development of Langkawi Geopark for our future generation.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Sustainable environment and development that balances the needs for socioeconomic development, environment and ecology have become a high priority on the agenda of the Kedah Gemilang.
Our task and commitment ahead is to help build a developed Kedah State based on holistic approach. Kedah Gemilang, also spelt out the need of environmental management and ecological protection.
The Government of Kedah is very serious to translate the plan in manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and services sector into reality. The achievement of our goal cannot be achieved without permanently damaging the environment for our future generation.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Towards the end of this conference there will be a forum to discuss on the formation of a Grouping of Asia Pacific Geopark Network. I laud this move since I feel it will bring great benefits among members especially at the regional level.
Langkawi Geopark is ever willing to take an active role in promoting this collaboration for mutual benefit as well as promoting sustainable and responsible tourism among geoparks.
In this regards, Langkawi Geopark has taken the initiative to collaborate directly with Funinshan Geopark, Nanyang, China and will sign and MOU. I hope this trend will continue to make cooperation among geoparks more exciting and meaningful.
The Langkawi Geopark is significant as it covers a wide spectrum from geology & landscape, to biology & social well being covering every aspect of tourism development of Langkawi, Kedah and Malaysia. As a matter of fact, the State Government Kedah has endorsed Langkawi Geopark since May 2006.
We have established an Advisory Council to oversee and provide policy guidelines for the development of Langkawi Geopark. There are 4 Committees to conduct the management and implementation of projects and activities within Geopark. Most importantly, the Most Honorable Yang Teramat Mulia Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz, the Princess of Kedah has agreed and is now the Royal Patron of Langkawi Geopark. Thank you Tunku Puteri.
With the establishment of Langkawi Geopark and its endorsement by UNESCO, Langkawi has become more popular and we expect a record number of visitors into Langkawi this year, way above the 2.1 million visitors recorded last year.
Ladies and Gentlemen
With this Conference, we hope to promote other geoparks in Malaysia and establish networking of geoparks within this Asia-Pacific region.
Once again, I would like to wish all delegated a warm welcome to Langkawi Geopark. I hope you will have fond memories of this island when you are back in your home countries.
Dengan lafaz Bismillah, saya dengan ini merasmikan The 1st Regional Conference on Asia-Pacific Geoparks and Business Dialogue 2007 Dan Pelancaran Langkawi Geopark dengan rasminya.
Thank you
|
