Rides into the sunset

Rides into the sunset

HOTELIERS and travel agents have given the thumbs-up to the new cable car night service on weekends, public holidays and school holidays at Gunung Mat Chinchang in Langkawi.

More than 100 of them rode the cable car on Wednesday night and all of them welcomed the idea, saying it would become a new tourist attraction for the island.

Travel agent S. Vikneswaran from Meenviks Nature Holidays Sdn Bhd said the night ride should be complemented with more activities on the middle and top stations for the visitors.

“The ride alone is good but there should be more activities at both stations for the visitors,” he said.

Langkawi-Online Sdn Bhd director Harry Wan said activities such as cocktail parties could be held for foreign tourists.

Berjaya Hotel general manager Graeme L Dwyer said that the hotel had on several occasions organised cocktail receptions on top of the hill for its guests.

He added that since it is now open to the public the hotel was willing to work with Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd (PLSB) to hold the receptions or other activities on the hill.

The night service on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, public and school holidays is until 10pm

From the summit of the 705m-high mountain, visitors would be able to see the island’s night life, including glowing lights from boats and yachts, buildings and the Langkawi International airport.

PLSB chief operating officer Ebi Azly Abdullah said there are more than 30 gondolas for the cable car service which operate at intervals of about 15 minute per ride from the foot of the mountain to the top station.

Tickets are priced at RM30 and RM20 for adult and children (aged between three and 12 years) respectively.

He said that PLSB would gradually include more activities to make the night ride more fun and entertaining.

Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) general manager Datuk Azman Umar said he hoped the new service would boost the number of tourists to the island.

The cable car operates from 10am until 6pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday but on Wednesday it starts only at noon until 6pm.

-News courtesy of The Star-