Long lines, neglected loos: Malaysian associations urge facelift for KL airport to draw tourists

From long immigration lines and luggage waiting times to the now out-of-commission aerotrains, players in tourism and hospitality say Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) needs a serious revamp to attract more tourists. While KLIA has served Malaysia well since it opened almost 25 years ago, stakeholders feel it has lagged behind rivals such as Singapore’s Changi Airport, said Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Tan Kok Liang. Common complaints from tourists were of the long lines at immigration, the state of the toilets and amenities, transportation between the main terminal and satellite building, as well as the waiting and sitting areas, added Tan. “Changi already has four world-class terminals and is working on its fifth. We have no plan at all, and our KLIA is already more than two decades old. An airport is always the face and the first impression of a country. If the services such as immigration and the aerotrains are not warm and welcoming, it reflects badly on its people. In the long run, it will affect tourism because travellers will choose airports that have better connectivity and transit facilities.”<br/>