UNESCO RE-EVALUATES LANGKAWI GEOPARK FOR EXTENSION UNTIL 2015

LANGKAWI (Kedah, Malaysia) June 24 (Bernama) -- The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) will re-evaluate the
Langkawi Geopark in July to extend its status until 2015.

Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) public relations officer Ramizi Hasan
said the Langkawi Geopark was declared by the Unesco Global Geopark Network as
the 52nd Geopark on June 1, 2007.

"We are prepared for the re-evaluation by Unesco officials, the date has yet
to be determined," he told Bernama, here.

Ramizi said several aspects such as the socio-economy, tourism and
environmental protection would be evaluated.

He said many achievements had been recorded including an increase in tourist
arrivals since the declaration of the Langkawi geopark.

Lada also held the Langkawi Geopark anniversary carnival with 20 programmes
recently.

Langkawai is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km
off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of the
state of Kedah, which is adjacent to the Thai border.

Its scenic beauty blended with its rich biodiversity has been Langkawi’s
main tourist attraction.
-- BERNAMA