Langkawi today is seeing a dramatic increase in new development, particularly in the Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah Areas. But a bit more removed from those tourist hot spots there is signifi cant development either in progress or on the immediate drawing board. And these new developments are all about the beach, the quintessential island venue for most tourists visiting the island.
Just over the hill from the Langkawi Fair Mall where Jalan Beringin ends at what was once the old seaside village of shops and chalets of Pantai Beringing, there is the sound of heavy construction equipment. The bulldozers and cranes are making way for the new 5-star St. Regis Resort. The resort will have almost exclusive command of this secluded stretch of beach and may rival the long-established Westin Resort with its close proximity to Kuah Town.
Across the island on Pantai Tengah there is a vast portion of the northern end of the beach that has resisted development ever since I first visited here seven years ago. At the time of this writing, rumour has it that there are two major hotel groups vying to develop this property – the last undeveloped beachfront in the area.
Pantai Tengah starts just on the other side of the headland that marks the south end of Pantai Cenang, and is far less developed. Consequently, it boasts fewer beachgoers. Except for the small area where the parasailing boys operate at the end of Jalan Pantai Tengah, the beach is almost always pleasantly deserted, even though to the south you have the Frangipani, Holiday Villa, and Lanai Resorts. The development of this part of Pantai Tengah will bring a big boost for the area and more beachfront residence options for tourists and visitors. And with the considerable setback from the high tide line, the development will be less intrusive than many of those resorts built almost to the water’s edge on Pantai Cenang.
In Kuala Mudah, just past the Four Points by Sheraton, and slightly north of the airport, major work to clear the jungle has been completed opening up a 1km-long area that sits just behind the breakwater from the sandy beach of the Langkawi Lagoon. Once just scrub jungle and full of grazing cows, the area has been transformed into an almost park-like setting. The row of fishermen’s houses will eventually have to be removed and with it will disappear the snapshot setting of nets be mended and boats lined up on the shore being readied for the next day at sea. A resort of the size to fill this cleared area will bring in hundreds of new rooms to the area and could transform this part of the island into a tourist destination point and, one would assume, bring with it the obligatory minimarts, tourists shops, and taxi stands.
The Tanjung Sanctuary was a small and secluded resort with 34 suites overlooking the adjacent beach and sea nestled in amongst the rainforest. It sat on the headland between Sangai Teriang and Telaga Harbor. This was one of my favourite resorts for its pristine jungle location that was always alive with wildlife and for its quiet seclusion on the high land overlooking the sea. It was recently purchased by the Ritz Carlton Group, and currently demolition is in the full swing of the wrecking ball. This will become a 150-plus room resort, but it will still retain its private access to the adjacent beach that is otherwise only accessible by sea. One can only hope that the developers will retain as much of the rainforest environment as possible while expanding to create the new 5-star resort.
In Pantai Kok, adjacent to Mediterraneanstyle Telaga Harbour, there is a large new development under construction. Massive retaining walls, reinforced hillsides, and gently sloping open areas extend all the way to the entrance to the Oriental Village. There is also a bypass road being built, set back from the existing beach road that it is slated to replace. Locals are concerned about losing their access to Pantai Kok, as the word on the street is that the new resort, along with the existing 5-star Dana Hotel, will limit, or almost cut off completely, public access. Pantai Kok is a favourite of locals and often busy as a lunch spot on weekdays or full of picnicking families on weekends.
New development projects have been proposed in the past for the end of Tanjung Rhu and the entire Langkawi Lagoon to create gated communities with private access to the surrounding areas, and once again, restrict public access. This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed for Langkawi. Does the plan for development that restricts public access to the beaches really serve the overall future of the island, the public, and the tourist industry? The beaches that are being garnered for these developments are currently beautiful and underutilized to be sure, but that is also what keeps them the idyllic “tropical island beaches.” No one disagrees with the fact that further development is inevitable and increased tourism will be critical to the growth of the economy. The robust growth that is in progress now truly accentuates the need to plan carefully for the future to ensure that there are not only sun chairs available at exclusive 5-star resorts but public beaches that are moderately developed and easily accessible to the public and the more economically minded traveller.
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