Langkawi Shopping

Langkawi is the regional shopping hub for duty-free goods, offering both international and local products. Most of the island’s shopping opportunities are found in its central commercial area – the town of Kuah. Here, you will find many stores and malls dedicated to providing the lowest prices of tax-free goods.

Kuah

Although the varieties of brand names are limited, (you’ll have a better range in places like Kuala Lumpur and Penang) the shops and stores in Kuah does stock a decent selection of items. The largest shopping mall is the Langkawi Fair building which has some 100 retail lots. Other shopping complexes include the Jetty Point Shopping Complex, Saga Shopping Centre and Zone Shopping Paradise in Pantai Cenang.

Modern Goods

The most sought-after goods are of course, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. There’s a wide range of beer and hard liquor such as spirits, whisky, rum and cognac on sale. Perfumes and fragrances are another popular choice along with cosmetics, leather, fashion accessories, clothes, shoes and confectionary. You can also purchase the latest cameras, watches and other electronic goods for a song on the island.

Handicrafts

Not to be missed out are cultural souvenirs such as batik; a type of Malay garment from the east coast, ornamental objects crafted from pewter, crystals and traditional pottery. Besides Kuah, the airport in Padang Masirat is another good place to check out as well as the popular beaches such as Pantai Cenang.

Restrictions

There is a limit on the amount of tax-free goods you can bring out. Foreign nationals visiting Malaysia for 48 hours or less receive a duty exemption for the purchase of souvenirs, gifts and items intended for personal use up to a limit of RM500. There is a duty-free limit for certain types of items: booze (up to one litre), tobacco (up to 225g, or 200 cigarettes), one pair of leather footwear, new clothing (up to three pieces), as well as cosmetics and personal hygiene items (not including powder or hair products).