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Langkawi Ferry Passengers Demand Quality Service
As the government has approved a RM3 fare increase for ferries plying between Langkawi and the mainland starting next Wednesday, the passengers are hoping for nothing less than a quality service.
Kedah Culture, Arts and Tourism Committee Chairman Nawawi Ahmad himself has acknowledged that ferry services to the popular resort island had not attained a level of quality to be proud of.
Sometimes, a number of ferries broke down on the way, causing inconvenience to the passengers and hampering efforts to promote Langkawi as a holiday destination of choice, he said.
At present, six companies operate 30 ferries to this island from Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis, Penang and Satun in southern Thailand. Last year, they carried almost 1.7 million passengers to Langkawi.
Nawawi said he hoped that the operators would enhance their level of service to the satisfaction of their customers because tourists preferred the sea route to get here.
He said they should provide comfortable seats, ensure that the ferries did not move too slowly to the extent that they made the passengers restless, the air-conditioning system was in good working order, and they did not alter the departure schedule without prior notice.
A tourist from Johor, Zainizah Baharom, when approached at the Kuah jetty, said ferry operators should provide more facilities and safety features in the ferries.
All doors must be shut when the ferry was in motion, said Zainizah, who had come here for the first time with her family.
Mazlan Hamid of Alor Star, who often came to Langkawi on business, wanted ferry operators to follow their schedule strictly.
"During the school holidays, such as now, ferries can be said to depart from the jetty every hour but outside the holiday season, the schedule keeps changing without prior notice to the passengers who have already purchased the tickets," he said.
Langkawi Ferry Services Sdn Bhd Director Loke Gim San welcomed the fare increase but said it was not enough to cover the rising cost of operations following the increase in fuel prices.
Seraya Bayu Sdn Bhd Managing Director Abdul Rauf Abdul Samad thanked the government for the fare increase and said: "Although it cannot cover the total cost of operations, it will reduce our burden and, in the end, enable us to provide a better service."
Langkawi 2005-06-09
