Langkawi facing shortage of rooms

LANGKAWI: Langkawi is facing shortage of rooms to meet rising number of local and foreign tourists, particularly during school holidays and international events like Langkawi International Maritime Exhibition (Lima).

Kedah Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) chairman Pishol Ishak said the room increase from 7,200 last year to 8,000 currently was  inadequate to meet demand from tourists.

He said inadequate rooms at hotels, resorts and chalets prompted many tourists to stay at homestay projects in kampungs while some had to sleep in cars and at bus stations.

Langkawi's latest hotel is the 154-room My Hotel in Kuah, which opened only last week.

Its spokesman Ku Azhar Ku Abdul Razak said that My Hotel was set up by My Ferry, the Langkawi ferry operator.

"We offer “My Pakej” which comes complete with lodging and ferry service to  visitors," he said. -- Bernama