Opening up luxury hotels such as The St Regis Langkawi is a strategy to boost the reputation of the island resort, particularly among upmarket tourists, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak here.
He said Langkawi Island would become more internationally known through other developments to follow.
"What we have not been able to do is bring upmarket or premium tourists to Langkawi. When we can do so, we will get more high paying jobs and more demand for handicrafts," he said.
He told reporters this after a brief visit to The St Regis Langkawi hotel which would be opened by Yang Dipertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.
The prime minister said the six-star hotel would lead to more tourism infrastructures to cater to high-income tourists.
Najib said the government also planned to increase the number of direct flights to Langkawi as an added measure to draw in more tourists to the island.
He said there was currently only one direct international flight, from Guangzhou, China and that more direct flights would put Langkawi on the world tourism map.
According to him, the opening of the The St Regis Langkawi also symbolised the successful cooperation between the government and private sector and the close relations between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments.
"The result, this hotel was completed in 19 months. This is a record in terms of government and private sector cooperation which enabled the successful completion of project of international standard and on budget," he said.
The St Regis Langkawi is a joint venture between Malaysia's Finance Ministry through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and Rajawali Group, an Indonesian conglomerate.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, Rajawali Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Peter Sandakh accompanied the prime minister during the visit.
Bernama
Sun May 29 2016
Najib speaking at the launch of The St Regis Langkawi on Sunday. - BERNAMApic
Karnival TEKUN Madani sempena Pesta Kaamatan di Kuala Penyu
Pada karnival itu juga, KUSKOP akan melancarkan projek Tamu Desa bagi Sabah untuk tahun 2023.
Pendekatan berhemah, waspada perlu dalam kes babitkan wartawan Bloomberg - Johan Jaaffar
Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar menggesa pihak polis untuk mengambil pendekatan berhemah, penuh waspada dan penuh pemahaman dalam mengendalikan kes membabitkan seorang wartawan Bloomberg, Ram Anand.
Filipina, AS tembak 'tentera penceroboh' dalam latihan di Laut China Selatan
Tentera Amerika Syarikat dan Filipina melepaskan tembakan peluru berpandu dan artileri ke arah pasukan 'tentera penceroboh' dalam latihan perang di pantai utara Filipina pada Isnin.
Rakaman dashcam puting beliung di Nebraska
Visual yang anda saksikan tadi adalah rakaman video kamera papan pemuka (dashcam) yang menunjukkan detik puting beliung di Nebraska pada 26 April lalu.
Rakaman itu menunjukkan puting beliung dahsyat itu memusnahkan bangunan di Lincoln di Nebraska.
Rakaman itu menunjukkan puting beliung dahsyat itu memusnahkan bangunan di Lincoln di Nebraska.
Kenakan sekatan, hanti eksport senjata ke Israel - OIC
Pertubuhan Kerjasama Islam (OIC) mengecam 'pembunuhan beramai-ramai' di Gaza dan menggesa 57 negara anggotanya mengenakan sekatan ke atas Israel dalam resolusi yang diterima pakai pada penghujung sidang kemuncaknya di Gambia pada 5 Mei.
Qantas Airways sedia bayar penalti 100 juta dolar Australia
Qantas Airways berkata pada Isnin bersetuju untuk membayar penalti sebanyak A$100 juta dolar Australia untuk menyelesaikan tuntutan mahkamah susulan kes menjual tiket yang telah dibatalkan.
Putin angkat sumpah untuk penggal kelima pada selasa
Majlis itu yang dijadualkan berlangsung di Kremlin, menandakan permulaan penggal selama enam tahun untuk pentadbiran Putin yang memenangi 87 peratus undi semasa Pilihan Raya Presiden yang berlangsung pada Mac.
Faisal kini dirawat di ICU, perlu jalani beberapa pembedahan
Pemain skuad kebangsaan, Faisal Halim, kini menjalani rawatan di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) susulan kejadian disimbah asid di sebuah pasar raya di Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
Jemaah wanita dinasihat kurangkan pergerakan jika disahkan hamil
Ada nasihat siberikan Pengarah Operasi Madinah (Perubatan) Dr Mahyin Kudong kepada jemaah haji wanita yang disahkan hamil semasa musim haji baik sebelum atau selepas tiba di Tanah Suci.
Anak akan rindu nyanyian 'live' Hail Amir
Ridauddin Daud, Wartawan Astro AWANI