Pangkor Island’s new duty-free island status, effective today, is expected to boost tourist arrivals on the island.

State Tourism, Arts and Culture Committee chairperson Tan Kar Hing said the new status would encourage more tourists to visit the island resort this year.

Without disclosing the details, Tan said the number of tourist arrivals to the island over the last five years had declined and he was confident that the new status would boost the tourism sector.

“Thus far, we view the new status of Pangkor Island is an interesting (development) and we expect it will help the island to return to its previous level (of popularity),” he said when met by Bernama recently.

Touching on the island’s infrastructure, Tan said the state government would rope in the private sector to invest in, among others, to build a big and comfortable shopping mall and a three-star hotel.

In addition, Tan said the state government had also planned to upgrade the ferry service to cater to passengers in addition to the island’s famed pink taxis.

He also said that in term of the services of ferry and taxis, there was a sub-committee to handle the issue including giving financial assistance in the form of loan to taxi operators and associations as well as the possibility of giving licence to more ferry operators.

On the list of duty-free items, the sale of liquor and cigarettes was still under negotiations between the state government and the Ministry of Finance, he said, adding that currently there were three duty-free shops operating on the island.

He was also aware of complaints by the locals pertaining to the small jetty as it was not only used for both cargo and passengers but the locals had to queue alongside tourists.

“I have already raised the issue that perhaps we can have a new policy to provide exit access for locals, but as of now, we have to use what we have at the moment,” Tan said.

- Bernama