Diana Mohamad

How Visitor and Environmental Characteristics Influence Perceived Crowding

This paper aims to investigate tourists’ perceptions of crowding and factors influencing those perceptions. The effects of visitor socio-demographic characteristics, economic factors, and destination situational characteristics are investigated. Questionnaire data were collected from a sample of 362 tourists at Pantai Cenang Beach, Langkawi Island. The results confirmed the significant effect of visitor socio-demographic characteristics on perceived crowding. Among the economic factors, although the findings did not confirm an effect for level of income, the results showed a positive effect for spending money per day on perceived crowding. Furthermore, the hypothesized effect of situational characteristics on perceived crowding could not be verified. In light of the absence of studies investigating the factors influencing perceived crowding using partial least squares–structural equation modeling, this study contributes theoretically and methodologically to the perceived crowding literature. Moreover, the results can assist the local authorities to understand the perceptions of tourists for future development.

Tourism Destination Attributes and Visitation Motivations: The KILIM Geopark Case

The rapid growth in the tourism industry has created competition among host communities in Malaysia in offering a tourism product, especially when related to nature-based tourism. In the case of the Kilim Geopark, apart from the provision of high development, the ability to meet a variety of options has helped it to gain international recognition; Kilim Geopark currently has a large following from all over the world. While geopark is considered a new trend of tourism business (domestic and international), the motivating factor for this chapter is to get travellers ‘opinions’ concerning the Kilim Geopark attractions. This study presents the results based on the experience of the place-based nature tourism experience to see from a new perspective. Based on the study tourism destination attributes and visitor motivations, the research results suggest that respondents considered the importance of nature-based attractions and sustainability of the Kilim Geopark.

The Healing Village of Malaysia: from Local Wisdoms to Implementation

Rapid urbanization, hectic lifestyle, and increased cost of living, have resulted significant impacts to the mental and physical well-being of Malaysians in general, especially those living the urban areas like the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, and the heritage cities of Penang and Malacca. These have resulted to the much needed demand for recuperation and revitalization. While, more and more types of healing therapies such as Balinese Spa, Thai Massage, Swedish Spa and Turkish Bath, dominating the healing market in Malaysia, the state of art of the Malay traditional spa is at stake. Thus, the call of an intervention on the decline of this type of spa resulted in the developmental framework of a healing village concept. This paper reports on the development of a healing village concept which integrates the uniqueness of the Malays local knowledge and culture in revitalizing a holistic wellness. Kampung Batu Hampar, located in Beseri, Malaysia, has been selected as the site for the Healing Village Project. This Project develops four subprograms, namely Cultural Troupe, Herbs Garden, Kampung (village) Stay and Malay Traditional Therapy---as the agent of recuperative for the Malaysians. In particular, these subprograms involve the following healing dimensions: socio-economic, culture, people and environment. The development of these four subprograms is based on the natural resources observed in Kampung Batu Hampar as well as findings revealed by informal interviews with the villagers.

Linking nature-based tourism attributes to tourists’ satisfaction

Nature-based tourism (NBT) definitions are broadly separated into two continuum, namely (1) tourism activities that passively take pleasure in undisturbed and/or undeveloped natural resources (CeballosLascurain, 1996) and (2) tourism activities that actively utilize nature-based attractions’ attributes (Pickering & Weaver, 2003). NBT generally and mature NBT spots especially are in urgent need of practical solutions that could elicit the desired tourism experiences (Andriotis, Agiomirgianakis, & Mihiotis, 2008). Crilley, Weber, and Taplin (2012, p. 218) found that satisfaction towards NBT attraction is the experiences felt, affected by “... use levels, perceived crowding, absence of litter, extent a visitor values the site, level of development, ... and condition of trails”; general knowledge constructs satisfaction are based on the following: desired outcome, attainment of desired outcome and desired outcome management. Constraints-wise, Thapa (2012) viewed satisfaction as something delivered due to inter-communication between factors of individuals’ psychological state, social interactions, and negotiation between the first two factors. Therefore, understanding how needs and motivations are exchanged and how these play pivotal roles within the satisfaction framework are important. While motivation concerns psychology of the individual and destination choice more of a tourist attraction, understanding both are vital towards increasing visitor satisfaction during visitations.

Tourism development progress of two islands of Malaysia: The locals’ perspective towards climate change

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to look at the physical tourism impacts experienced by the communities of Redang Island and Perhentian Island – two tourist islands located close to the coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The physical tourism impacts are examined via environmental and infrastructure related attributes (19 attributes), which are further categorized into sustainability, environment, greenhouse effects, public and tourist facilities maintenance, sewage system management, rural areas and deforestation. All of these indicators indirectly measure the impact of climate change in these island destinations. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a questionnaire survey with an instrument based on prior work by Ap and Cromptom (1998) with regard to air pollution, deforestation and land fertility; Tetlow and Hanusch (2012) in relation to biodiversity; Sunlu (2003) in line with greenhouse effects, water quality, natural landscape and solid waste; and Cessford and Dingwall (1999), corresponding to physical impacts. Findings Results for Perhentian Island indicate serious physical impacts resulting from tourism development, compared with less serious impacts on Redang Island. Both islands were observed to experience tourism development progress that is well-blended with their natural environment, and the level of physical impact dependency on tourism development can be assessed using the environmental and infrastructure variables. Research limitations/implications While the paper reports on findings from both Perhentian and Redang Islands, results from this paper could well represent other communities in many other Malaysian island locations (or perhaps the wider region), facing a similar phenomenon. Originality/value The paper contributes to an understanding of how to investigate each variable independently, as each island is undergoing a different lifecycle phase, regardless of the fact that some islands may be mirroring each other. In addition, the paper envisages the importance of integrating social exchange theory and integrated threat theory, when it comes to evaluating how people judge the consequences of their actions.