January 29, 2009 14:43 PM

Krabi-Langkawi Ferry Service On The Pipeline

By D. Arul Rajoo

SONGKHLA, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Authorities in Krabi are planning to introduce a ferry service between one of Thailand's top tourism destinations and Malaysia's resort island, Langkawi.

Mohd Aini Atan, Malaysia's Consul-General in Songkhla, said that such service would benefit both countries as the destinations attracted a large number of tourists every year.

He said Krabi, which is about two hours from Phuket island, was looking at the possibility of extending the current Krabi-Trat ferry service to Langkawi, with expected travelling time of about three hours.

"If that takes place, this will facilitate tourism between Krabi and Langkawi. Currently, Thais and other foreign tourists in Krabi have to go to Phuket and take flights to Penang, or travel by land, which could take about six hours to the Malaysian border," he said.

Currently, there is a ferry service between Satun and Langkawi, operating three times daily. It is learnt that the service from Krabi is likely to also include tourists travelling from Koh Samui to Krabi by land, before going to Langkawi by ferry.

Mohd Aini was speaking after accompanying Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Husni Zai Yaacob, at a meeting with Songkhla Governor, Sondhi Tejanant.

Husni is currently on a familiarisation visit to southern Thailand, including to Phuket and Yala.

More than 80 per cent of about 1.3 million Thais who visited Malaysia came from Thailand's 14 southern provinces.

During the meeting, Sondhi told the Malaysian delegation that there were many areas that both countries could work together, especially along their common borders.

He said Malaysians were among the biggest group of visitors to the southern provinces, but Thai authorities were having problems tackling congestion at the Thai-Malaysia checkpoints.

Mohd Aini said there about 14 Malaysian companies operating in Songkhla and nearby provinces, including Petronas, which was involved in a joint gas exploration and development project.

He said there were many other potential areas that could be explored by both Malaysia and Thai investors given the various incentives offered under the scope of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle.

-- BERNAMA

That sound interesting as I may be moving to Langkawi and need a way to get hay directly to the island..

Let's just hope, for safety's sake it's administered by Malaysia, not Thailand.