Tourist Infrastructure
TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION VERSUS SUCCESSFUL DESTINATIONS CASE STUDY: LANGKAWI ISLAND
Jamil Jusoh & Badaruddin Mohamed
School of Rousing, Building & Planning Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia. ABSTRACT Malaysian government has been spending more than US86 million from its annual budget every year for tourism promotion. Since tourism has been identified as the second most important sector of the economy after manufacturing, nearly 30% of the budget allocation is channeled towards physical development, providing infrastructure and services. Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia stands amongst top countries in term of providing a first class tourist infrastructure. Apart from this huge allocation, nonstop promotion and high government incentives for the tourist operators, the arrival of international tourists to Malaysia cannot be considered encouraging enough and tourist activities are slowing down. Why do this happen? Are these the results of poor and insufficient provision of tourism products? Does promotion and marketing strategy implemented by the tourism-related sector not fulfilling the required information and drives needed by the tourist markets? Why are other South-East Asian countries could prosper despite having limited financial resources and substandard infrastructure facilities? All these questions will be answered in this paper. Keywords:Tourist Infrastructure, Malaysia, Tourism Planning, Development LANGKAWI - INTRODUCTION Langkawi, "The Island of Legend" is located between Sumatra and Western Thailand. It is at the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia. Comprising a group of 104 islands, the biggest being Langkawi, it is a place for those seeking tranquility and refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life. So powerful is its charm on visitors that many have returned to the island time and again. a) Total land area is 47,848 hectares(478.48 sq. km) b) There are only three islands that are inhabited. - Langkawi
Jamil Jusoh & Badaruddin Mohamed
School of Rousing, Building & Planning Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia. ABSTRACT Malaysian government has been spending more than US86 million from its annual budget every year for tourism promotion. Since tourism has been identified as the second most important sector of the economy after manufacturing, nearly 30% of the budget allocation is channeled towards physical development, providing infrastructure and services. Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia stands amongst top countries in term of providing a first class tourist infrastructure. Apart from this huge allocation, nonstop promotion and high government incentives for the tourist operators, the arrival of international tourists to Malaysia cannot be considered encouraging enough and tourist activities are slowing down. Why do this happen? Are these the results of poor and insufficient provision of tourism products? Does promotion and marketing strategy implemented by the tourism-related sector not fulfilling the required information and drives needed by the tourist markets? Why are other South-East Asian countries could prosper despite having limited financial resources and substandard infrastructure facilities? All these questions will be answered in this paper. Keywords:Tourist Infrastructure, Malaysia, Tourism Planning, Development LANGKAWI - INTRODUCTION Langkawi, "The Island of Legend" is located between Sumatra and Western Thailand. It is at the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia. Comprising a group of 104 islands, the biggest being Langkawi, it is a place for those seeking tranquility and refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life. So powerful is its charm on visitors that many have returned to the island time and again. a) Total land area is 47,848 hectares(478.48 sq. km) b) There are only three islands that are inhabited. - Langkawi
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