Does food besides tourism core products contribute to Sabah destination image? - Theory and Practice in Hospitality and Tourism Research - page 484

weather and culture or artificial resources such as
entertainment, events and transportation, just to
name a few are closed or strongly influenced the
image of a tourism destination They also postu-
late that mixture of tourism products, experiences
and other intangible items are associated with the
image of a tourist destination. In fact, the charac-
teristics of tourism core products and services also
linked to the destination image.
Based on the above notion, Jalis, Zahari, Zulki-
fly and Othman (2009) deduce besides tourism
core products, the local attributes such as his-
tory, heritage including food could contribute or
increase the image of a destination. Auxiliary with
this argument, it is assumed that food also plays
in important role in strengthening the image of
a particular destination. Goeldner and Ritchie
(2006) contended that food is one of the important
elements that cannot be ignored by tourists and it
influenced their travelling mood toward a destina-
tion. Some travelers travel to other countries to try
and consume food and beverages that the country
offers (Boniface, 2003). In other word, the relation-
ship between food of the particular destination
and it destination image should not be ignored and
overlook.
Hong Kong is one of the country that attract a
lot of Taiwanese, Japanese, Singaporean and other
country travelers not only because of shopping,
sky scraping, amusement parks, marina and cul-
ture, but foods without exception moderate their
destination image (Kivelä & Crotts, 2006). Besides
engaging other travel and leisure activities tourists
took a chance to savor the Honky food products
during their stayed. Similar scenario goes Singa-
pore as it becomes the most popular hawkers' food
and cuisines among the international tourists than
upscale restaurants (Henderson, 2000). With that,
this paper conceptually discussing the contribution
of tourism core products and food to destination
image from a general perspective to the specific
contextual setting that is Sabah, Malaysia.

ship or the physical environments that consist of
water quality, marines, natural resources, cul-
tural resources, and the condition of the facilities,
weather, equipment's, and buildings.
Komppula (2001) posited tourism core prod-
ucts are the collection of tangible and intangible
features where all of the features related to activi-
ties that tourists join or participate during their
visit at the particular tourism destination. In this
sense, tangible features refer to physical plants like
marinas, natural resources, cultural resources while
intangible features relate to hospitality, services,
peoples as well as the communication among tour-
ists and the local peoples.
Scholars' conceptualized destination at particu-
lar country is a geographic location that combined
the tangible and intangible features (Murphy,
Pritchard & Smith, 2000). In line with this, tour-
ism providers are offering tangible and intangible
features for tourists since both features comple-
ment each other and influence the travel experi-
ence (Albayrak, Aksoy & Caber, 2013).
As attractions are part of the tourism core prod-
uct, Dolnicar and Huybers (2010) stated that type
of attraction in the destination consists of natu-
ral (e.g. national park, animal park, general natu-
ral beauty and scenery), cultural/historical (e.g.
museum, architecture, wineries) and marines (e.g.
snorkeling). The image of attraction like natural
is synonymous with relaxation activities. Tour-
ists perceive natures as part of the wilderness and
mountain therefore the image in the destination
are determined by nature, enjoyment, relaxation
and wilderness.
Chai (2011) emphasized that cultural attraction
as new niche products that can be offered in tour-
ism development henceforth represent the place
and a sense of the destination. In addition, culture
provides a way for the country to boast its status
or reputation at the same time makes the country
look real. Ashworth and Larkham (2003) asserted
culture can be divided into two concepts that are
“location and culture” and “boundaries and fron-
tier” where these two concepts can give an effect
to the possibilities and volume of cultural tourism.
There are eight examples of culture elements: (a)
archeological sites and museums, (b) architecture,
(c) art, sculpture, crafts, galleries, festivals, events,
(d) music and dance, (e) drama, (f) language and
literature study, tours, events, (g) religious festivals,
pilgrimages, and (i) complete (folk or primitive)
cultures and sub-cultures.

2 LITERATURE

2.1 Tourism core products
In tourism, the core products usually come in a
variety of forms. Medlik and Middleton (1973)
postulate that, tourism core products as a bundle
of physical products such as plant, services, and
activities at the touristy location that create the
whole tourism experiences. One of the elements
in tourism core products is physical plants that
are a site, natural resources and facilities such as a
waterfall, wildlife, or resort. Besides that, physical
plants can be a fixed property likes hotel or cruise

2.2 Relationship between food and tourism
Scholars start to argue that food is one of the
important elements that cannot be ignored by tour-
ists and it influenced their travelling mood toward