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RM38 million set aside to strengthen Langkawi’s Geopark status

Feri diselubungi asap akibat puntung rokok yang bernyala

The Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) has assured that it is pulling out all the stops to strengthen the island’s Geopark status accorded by Unesco prior to the next inspection by the world body in 2015.

Its chief executive officer Tan Sri Khalid Ramli today said the federal government has allocated RM38 million specifically for the Geopark, in addition to other budgets for tourism, general infrastructure and so on.

“We are striving at our very level best,” he said, adding that the last Unesco evaluation in 2011 had outlined a series of suggestions for improvement.

“Of course we want to maintain the status and we will work hard to ensure it is kept,” he told a press conference at Laman Padi in Langkawi today.

He said Lada, which comes under the Finance Ministry, is open to providing the list of projects undertaken from the RM38 million in response to any calls for public disclosure.

The expenditures include the upgrading of infrastructure – like information signboards and boardwalks – in sites featuring natural attractions, such as in Pulau Dayang Bunting, the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and the Telaga Tujuh waterfalls, he said.

Khalid also allayed concerns that the Geopark status would be marginalised by the tourism blueprint prepared by Lada for Langkawi.

“The Geopark remains an integral branding of Langkawi.”

He said the blueprint is a “very good tactical plan” while the commercial branding of “Naturally Langkawi” will add value to the Geopark.

He added that Lada is planning a Geopark Carnival in November along with an Asian Birds Conference, as part of the initiatives to boost the Geopark status.

He said the fact that there are 240 species of birds, including three species of hornbills in Langkawi, can be packaged to draw “top-notch tourists”.

He also said the authorities are considering making Pulau Dangli off the northern coast of Langkawi island, which has a rich coral reef, into an official marine park for conservation and protection.

The only other marine park in Langkawi’s vicinity is Pulau Payar, Khalid said, adding that two other small islands with reefs also have the potential to be considered for the listing.

On concerns that the island could be over-congested with tourists and tourism-related development, Khalid said Lada is looking into a study on the “carrying capacity” of Langkawi.

Langkawi recorded 3.4 million tourist arrivals last year, and some 1.64 million from January to June this year.

With the number of visitors increasing, he said the island needs more hotel rooms that the 8,000-odd that have been recorded by the end of 2012.

On the feedback given by civil society and private groups, such as the Friends of Langkawi Geopark (Flag), on issues in line with the requirements of Unesco, Khalid said Lada welcomes pointers from any concerned party and is willing to collaborate to bring about improvements.

Langkawi is among 100 global Unesco-listed Geoparks in thirty countries.