DUTY FREE SHOPPING

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 of the outlets at the Kuah town 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.