Langkawi presents a unique opportunity for new business development including start-ups and investment. Home to an up-and-coming digital nomad scene, the island paradise offers more than enough factors to make it an attractive prospect for the launch of business ideas. One of the obvious attractions to Langkawi is its blissful weather and unbelievable beach backdrops. The island offers a rock-bottom cost of living, even by Malaysian standards. Though the workforce is educated up until secondary and higher level, English may not be as widely spoken as Malaysia’s larger cities. The island’s overall infrastructure has potential, including high speed internet.
Langkawi has produced scores of successful micro-tourism organizations, focused on niche opportunities in the thriving tourism sector. Investment into services include accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and tourism technology. Many of Langkawi’s start-ups are fostered by local entrepreneurs, able to attract a pool of local talent. Backed by tourism operators and the Langkawi government, sustainable tourism is responsible fora boom in the start-up scene.
Ongoing events and seminars are held to boost the development of new businesses on the island. The Langkawi Development Authority leads, with regular assistance offered to entrepreneurs in form of subsidies, business coaching and matching services for those doing business in Langkawi. The focus in recent years has been on the digitalization of Langkawi’s economy, with new ventures grasping opportunities related to the development of cashless services, digital analytics and other aspects of digitization that can serve the tourism industry.