Friday, April 9, 2010

Redang Island Just Got Expensive!!

There are several islands off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia that have been popular over the years, first with the backpacker crowd, then with the locals, and finally with the rich-and-famous, who typically want higher-end accommodations. Islands such as the Perhentians (Big and Little), Redang, Tioman, and Kapas have enjoyed growing popularity albeit slowly, which is good for sustainable development.

Thus it was with shock that I read this morning that the state government of Terengganu plans on setting a minimum hotel price of US$500 (~RM1600) per room per day! The goal, of course, is to close down low-cost beach cottage hotels that do not have sufficient sewage treatment facilities. This is understandable, but considering the high cost being implemented, the island -one of the finest in the world- will be off-limits to all but the rich. Is this really the road that Terengganu wants to take?

The knock-on issue, of course, is that pressure from the low-end of the market will be put on the remaining islands, and there will be motivation to put into place eventually higher-price requirements there also.

7 comments:

  1. Oh dear!!! I thought the Malay government was trying to influence foreigners to come to Malaysia with their "Truly Asia" campaign. Yes sewerage treatment and changes in all sorts of environmental things is needed if these beautiful islands are to be preserved, but.... $500 a night, few people would be interested.

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  2. There is an outcry right now from the chalet operators who would basically be forced to relocate to other islands. This would put added pressure on those coral reefs. I was talking to some locals (Malaysians) who are complaining that only rich foreigners (or well-connected locals, i.e., government cronies) would be able to visit Redang.

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  3. BTW, I see that you live in Kuantan now. Welcome!

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  4. Have a field trip in Redang in 2008.. nice red granite they have over there. the fractured granite..in fact the whole island is fractured.. gave us an impression of a very great force was involved which lead us to conclude that we have strike-slip motion(oops sorry too much geology).
    The island is beautiful and it will be very sad if we exclude a lot of people from visiting it..

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  5. Not too much geology! I took several classes in geology while studying for my hydrology degree. Do you have an internet source for geological maps of the east coast?

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  6. I will check on your request and will inform you soonest.

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  7. Been searching high and low for an internet source for geological maps of the east coast, even the hard copy that we have came from Geological Society of Malaysia and Jabatan Mineral and Geoscience.. with the wording such as no part can be copied, stored etc... unless with permission of...
    Thousands apologies.

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