On Cenang Beach, Mohamad Zaki Najmi sells fun and adventure activities that have powered Langkawi’s tourism economy for years – jet ski rides and boat tours on the Malaysian island’s turquoise waters.
But costs are rising fast at the popular island resort, and the sea sports operator has been forced to pass it on to his customers, a last resort for tourism players in Malaysia as competition for international visitors in Southeast Asia heats up.
Higher fuel prices, triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, have forced Zaki to increase boat packages – a 30-minute ride now costs US$30, compared with US$25 previously.
