langkawi magazine
Archives SECTION
Langkawi Island Target Corporate
Business travellers wanting to escape the rigours of work have a new option on a tiny west coast Malaysian island that is being touted as the "Carribbean of the East".
The Malaysian Government's recent approval to grant one-year visas on arrival to sailors, skippers and crew of yachts docking at Langkawi's Rebak Marina Resort is the latest move in promoting the getaway.
A pirate's lair until the 1970s, privately owned Rebak is a 244-hectare island and the second in the Langkawi Group to be developed for tourism. The visa initiative, which means that a letter of recommendation from Rebak Marina Resort will be issued to speed immigration clearance, has been welcomed by an increasing number of yachties as it makes Rebak a user-friendly addition on the popular Singapore, Port Klang, Phuket sailing circuit.
Sheltered in a man-made lagoon, Rebak's marina can currently accommodate up to 116 yachts. At night, many of those living in the docked yachts gather in the resort's open air bar to read their e-mails. Managed by Glenmarie Hotels and Resorts, an upcoming intensive marketing campaign is to position the resort on the international tourism map.
For those not staying in yachts, the resort offers 24 deluxe rooms, 4 junior suites and 28 family chalets with private terraces, many of which face the Straits of Malacca. An additional 32 superior rooms have recently been commissioned. Rebak's masterplan for integrated island development outlines the creation of a marina township the first in Malaysia to be known as "Trader's Town". The township is expected to be the hub for tourists staying on the island, day trippers taking the 10-minute shuttle from Port Langkasuka on the main island near the Langkawi International Airport, and long-term residents. The construction of 150 corporate villas priced from around $650,000 to $1.3 million and targeted at the international community is temporarily on hold until the economic situation improves in Malaysia.
Langkawi 2003
