Langkawi is the
premier duty-free shopping destination in
Malaysia. Shops, bazaars and shopping
centres throughout the island, especially
those in the high-traffic areas such as
Kuah,
Oriental Village, Pantai Chenang and Pantai
Tengah offer a good selection of clothing,
cosmetics, shoes, handbags, household
products and electronics. From
the antique and the exotic to the latest in
fashion, the
constantly changing product range includes
an extensive collection of designer labels
from the fashion capitals of the world that
have made their way to this paradise of an
island.
The duty
exemption on a range of items in Malaysia
has resulted in competitive pricing and
makes shopping in Langkawi an even more
attractive option. Duty-free items like
cameras, watches, pens, cosmetics, perfume,
cigarettes, liquor and electronic goods are
among the cheapest in the world.
Local regulations ensure that items are
price-tagged and prominently displayed,
particularly at department stores where prices are fixed.
Shopping malls in Langkawi where everything
is designed for shopper convenience have
foreign currency exchange counters,
restaurants, supermarkets and lots of shops
offering tremendous variety. There are
currently four shopping malls on the island
-- Jetty Point Mall, Langkawi Fair Shopping
Centre, Langkawi Parade and the much smaller
one-tenant Zon Shopping Centre that adjoins
the Underwater World at Pantai Cenang as
well as at the Langkawi Wildlife Park at
Jalan Air Hangat.
Duty-free
shopping for wines, spirits and beers can
also be made at most of the popular tourism
centres, including Pantai Tengah, Telaga
Harbour, Oriental Village, Pantai Cenang,
Padang Mat Sirat (airport) an, of course,
Kuah town. Check out the prices, as some may
be more competitive than others despite
the duty-free tag.
A
good place to start your shopping spree is
the modern Langkawi Fair Shopping Mall,
consisting of 100 retail lots housed in a
2-storey building. Its anchor tenant, the
Billion Department Store, stocks a wide
selection of items such as perfumes and
fragrances, cosmetics, leather wear, sports
gear, ladies' accessories, confectionery,
liquor and cigarettes The other shopping
outlets to check out in Kuah is the Langkawi
Duty Free (M) Sdn. Bhd, Haji Ismail Group
and the Saga Shopping Centre. All the
establishments offer almost similar range of
duty-free products. The difference is
probably in the pricing and staff
friendliness.
Most outlets in Kuah
shopping area stock loads of cheap luggage
bags, kitchen and household items. This is
due to the fact that such items are popular
among Malaysian shoppers from the mainland.
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