Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
K.W. Awang, M.F. Ong, Y.A. Aziz & G. Jeahnichen
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
ABSTRACT: By recognizing the nature and culture in small towns as an asset that could become tourist
attraction, this research is aimed at exploring the potential of small towns in Malaysia as the sustainable
tourism product. In any tourism planning and destination impact on the surrounding especially to the
surrounding community or local resident can be negative or positive. Nevertheless, local resident support
is essential to ensure long-term success in tourism development. This is particularly important because
local community is the main player of the small town development to support the overall small town
sustainability. The overall purpose of the study is to be a model of small town development and become
a pioneer research of a well self-sustained tourism destination that enhances the economy, quality of life,
and the community pride of small towns.
Keywords
:
Culture, development, small town, sustainable, tourism
1 INTRODUCTION
iii. Small towns with historical, cultural or heritage
assets
iv. Small towns with college campuses
By recognizing the social and economic benefits
of tourism, many town planners even the coun-
try planners have had goals that involve tourism
development.
As the centuries move on, small towns are being
abandoned. Deterioration of small towns are
especially significant in developed countries. The
population of small towns has migrated to great
commercial and industrial areas and cities. Not
only have the communities in small towns lost pop-
ulation, businesses have closed or relocated. The
physical environment is deteriorating, the commu-
nity's spirit is low, and the agricultural base had
challenged by world markets and technology.
Many researchers relate their study of small
towns with globalization challenges (e.g. Courvisa-
nos and Martin, 2005), urban sprawl (e.g. Lambe
2008; Leinberger, 2005), aging population (e.g.
Nicholls, 2005; Lambe, 2008), tourism development
(e.g. Altinay and Hussain, 2005), industrial develop-
ment (e.g. Leinberger, 2005), and entrepreneurship.
Though, many small town planners have identi-
fied the small town potential assets both tangible
and intangible before the place became completely
silent. They repackage the resources of small town
into tourism products that attract millions to
come.
Small town research studies have been a popular
subject in western countries. According to Lambe
(2008), towns are divided into few categories:
i. Small towns that are recreation or retirement
destinations
ii. Small towns that have abundance of natural
assets
2 LITERATURE REVIEWS
2.1
Malaysia tourism industry
The tourism sector has been Malaysia's second-
largest foreign exchange-earner. In 2009, although
the world was hit by the global financial crisis,
Malaysia's tourism arrivals continued to increase
7.2%; 23.65 million compared to 22.05 million
the previous year (Malaysia Economic Report
2010/2011). In 2010, Malaysia ranked 16th in
terms of global inbound tourist receipts, captur-
ing approximately 2% of the global market share
(Tourism's New Drive, 2010).
Malaysia's tourism industry has been signifi-
cantly important to the country as one of the 12
National Key Economic Area (NKEA) where
Malaysia has the potential to excel. We can see the
Ministry of Tourism and Culture has developed
many new tourism products such as the Homestay
program, rail tourism, and art tourism, in-line with
the government target to improve Malaysia's posi-
tion within the top 10 in terms of global tourism
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