Penang's Beaches

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The highlight now moves on to Langkawi.......

Tourist yearns for improvement in Langkawi
IT’S obvious that to create a recurring income from the tourist trade, you must have your regulars returning year after year. Kudos to Penang for providing the conditions.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/4/focus/5406008&sec=focus

Langkawi is fast losing its shine
IT’S heartening to see both local and foreign tourists expressing their concern about the cleanliness and maintenance of our tourist sites and popular destinations as reflected in the many letters to the press lately.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/9/focus/5415768&sec=focus

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He he he Ha ha really a communication "slip up" well I hope things get better as they appear to be doing, now we just need the motorised vehicles on beach and water brought into line with some enforced rules for water beach safety asap.

I did read a news article sometime early 2009 that the state government planned to regularise all beach activities to be operating at a designated zone etc.....But, i just wonder why it takes so long to get the plan materialised.

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I did read a news article sometime early 2009 that the state government planned to regularise all beach activities to be operating at a designated zone etc.....But, i just wonder why it takes so long to get the plan materialised.

Very soon now.....

Businesses on Batu Ferringhi beach to operate in zones

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/25fix/Article/index_html

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hi,

There's quite a few articles/opinions etc. on the "beach boys" operating illegally on Batu Ferringhi. Let's use this thread to garner views.

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Saw this article whilst having breakfast 

Life's no longer a beach in Penang

2010/04/25

By Sharanjit Singh and L.S. Teh

THE once famed north coast of Penang is slowly losing its charm, says tourists.They say it's difficult to enjoy a quiet, laid back holiday along the Batu Ferringhi beachfront these days because of the "distractions".

If you are not hit by a beach buggy as you lie on the sand, there is every chance that you could be trampled by a horse ridden by someone who has most probably never been on one before.

You will also have to constantly look skywards to avoid para-sailors landing at breakneck speeds on the beach as they are pulled by boats.

Failure to spot the fast approaching, screaming para-sailors could have fatal consequences.

All these, coupled with the constant harassment from beach touts soliciting for business along the beachfront have reached a stage where the reputation of Batu Ferringhi as a tourism hotspot has come under the spotlight.

Apart from problems caused by the water sports operators and harassment by beach touts, there have also been cases of tourists being attacked by packs of stray dogs.

Other more serious reported cases include a visitor from China who was killed in a hit-and-run accident after he was forced to walk on the busy road as the walkway was taken up by night market peddlers.

Before that, another tourist was injured in a quad bike accident on the beachfront.

The negative news about the going-ons at Batu Ferringhi is beginning to spread and has started to reach those who have not even set foot on the island.

A quick scan of comments left by tourists on www.tripadvisor.com, a popular international tourist web portal, reveal a long list of bad experiences encountered by visitors to Batu Ferringhi.

One contributor even went so far as to write that Penang has five-star resorts but only one-star beaches.

Another said that Batu Ferringhi looks like a shanty town.

The recent spate of bad news has pushed hoteliers to their wits' end.

Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa communications director Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman said he had sent countless emails to the state government regarding the deteriorating situation at the beachfront.

"We have received feedback from many of our long-staying guests that they may never return after encountering nasty experiences at the beachfront.


"They have also brought up safety issues as the pedestrian walkway along the busy road is occupied by illegal night market traders," he said.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow recently pledged to establish a special zone for beach operators to run their businesses.

Chow said the operators would be legalised but it would take some time.

Suleiman said: "Things are just not getting any better. I wish the YBs (Yang Berhormat) and the local authorities could just come here for coffee and watch what is happening along the beach.

"There have been some more incidents but no reports were lodged by the guests.

"The beach boys are very bold and their manner can be very threatening."

Suleiman hoped news reports of what was going on would also get the attention of the Federal Government.

 

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I'm not going to say anything negative about Batu Ferrenghi as I have friends living there, I do understand why people would get a little stressed on the beach having gone through most of the harrassments myself at one time or another.

Here are some related stories to about the beaches in Penang

Fading charm of Batu Ferringhi
2010/04/25
In the past, words like idyllic and picturesque had been used to describe the charm and scenery of Penang's north coast.
But in recent days those words have been replaced by overdevelopment and deterioration -- overdevelopment of the whole coastal area stretching from Tanjung Tokong up to Teluk Bahang and the deterioration of conditions at the Batu Ferringhi beachfront.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/00sharan02/Article/index_html

British tourist unhappy
2010/04/25
BRITISH tourists Brian and Ann Barker are so disturbed by what is going on along the Batu Ferringhi beachfront that they submitted a letter of complaint to the resort they were staying in.
They said the illegal signs promoting uninsured beach activities were placed so prominently that tourists assumed the services were supported and sanctioned by the resort.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/00sharan03/Article/index_html

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This is not being critical about Batu Ferringhi or Penang. Just feeling sad that the island is being ruined by unscrupulous people. 

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Same here. I remember Batu Ferringhi and all along that stretch of white sandy beach when I was growing up. But since the last time, my partner and I stayed at The Lone Pine Hotel (4 years ago), we checked out after one night. The place was dirty, with ruthless beach operator, and the 4 wheels beach bike roaming/roaring along the beach was so deafening to the once peaceful charm of the beach. Since then we only go back there at night time for the night market and dinner in one of the restaurant. I guess if you stay within the hotel premise, then it is fine. Just don't expect beaches like Pulau Langkawi.

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The centre of issue reported in NST today is mostly on the beach activities.  Beach cleanliness should have already been solved following media's blow up (yes it's also NST) and tourists' complaints early this year plus a big clean-up last weekend.

Beach activities is the trickest problem to be solved.  The affected people will always protest strongly against the local authority if their livelihood is under threat.  The issue made more complicated when political and racial issues bite in.  That's why all the previous attempts by local authority to eliminate beach activities declared "unsuccessful".

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I was staying on Tanjung Beach a couple of weeks ago hardly saw any beach operators. There was one chap that politely asked me if I wanted to have ago at Paragliding but I said that I couldn't afford it!

On a sidenote, I booked 6 nights at the Flamingo by the beach hotel on Tanjung beachfront, it has everything apart from a gym. and had been recently refurbished. We got a seaview room with LCD TV, free broadband, cheap beer etc for 175rm per night!

Someone on the forum mentioned the site marimari, I went on there, booked, no complaints, and I got VIP parking everyday at the front of the hotel

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I was staying on Tanjung Beach a couple of weeks ago hardly saw any beach operators. There was one chap that politely asked me if I wanted to have ago at Paragliding but I said that I couldn't afford it!

On a sidenote, I booked 6 nights at the Flamingo by the beach hotel on Tanjung beachfront, it has everything apart from a gym. and had been recently refurbished. We got a seaview room with LCD TV, free broadband, cheap beer etc for 175rm per night!

Someone on the forum mentioned the site marimari, I went on there, booked, no complaints, and I got VIP parking everyday at the front of the hotel

Beach operators are rampant only along Batu Ferringhi from Rasa Sayang all the way to Parkroyal.   The only portions in Batu Ferringhi which I think are much more better are those at Hard Rock and Bayview Beach Resort.

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T

he affected people will always protest strongly against the local authority if their livelihood is under threat.  The issue made more complicated when political and racial issues bite in.  That's why all the previous attempts by local authority to eliminate beach activities declared "unsuccessful".

Not sure how the above issues can be resolved. Perhaps the authority need to explain to those traders whose livelihood is under threat if they don't clean up their act is this "if things stay the same, no more tourists, no tourists $$, no livelihood or perhaps a much poorer livelihood!"  So, what is it to be?? Another way is to adopt this technique and hopes it will appeal to their logic "what would you do?  Clean up your act or stay the same and lose your livelihood?"

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T
Not sure how the above issues can be resolved. Perhaps the authority need to explain to those traders whose livelihood is under threat if they don't clean up their act is this "if things stay the same, no more tourists, no tourists $$, no livelihood or perhaps a much poorer livelihood!"  So, what is it to be?? Another way is to adopt this technique and hopes it will appeal to their logic "what would you do?  Clean up your act or stay the same and lose your livelihood?"

Cupert,

The state government is now in the midst of finding solutions to tackle the beach activities problems.  Hope to hear something positive soon.

Cheers!

costa

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So c'mon C-A, have you come to any conclusions about Living on the beach?  Would it worry you buying a property on the beach?

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Why would anyone wants to buy a property on or near the beach? 

You can't swim in the water because of the pollution and the raw sewage. Besides, don't the salt water caused serious damage to your car and property??

I think it is best to live a bit further away from the beach, enjoy the water views but at the same time you needn't encounter all the hassle that is associated with living on or near the beach.