Malaysia Tourism
Concurrent Session: Policy and Planning of Tourism Product Development in Asian Countries
POLICY AND PLANNING OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA ___________________________________________________________
Amran Hamzah Course Coordinator, Tourism Planning Programme Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor MALAYSIA ABSTRACT
Tourism is currently the second highest contributor to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after manufacturing. Despite its relatively late entrant as a ‘big time’ tourism player, the tourism industry in Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds since the early 1990’s. This paper will, firstly, trace the development of the tourism industry in Malaysia viz-a-viz its performance, institutional framework and policy planning initiatives. Secondly, it will discuss Malaysia’s efforts, successes and failures in promoting regional cooperation in tourism. Thirdly, the role of budget airlines, development of thematic/transborder heritage trails and growth in youth tourism will be evaluated in the light of multi-destination visitation. Fourthly, a SWOT Analysis will be used to discus the potential of improving regional cooperation in tourism as an economic venture as well as a tool for Asian cohesion. Finally, a list of action plans will be recommended to provide a systematic mechanism for enhancing regional cooperation in the region.
INTRODUCTION Malaysia is a relatively new entrant into tourism in relation to its ASEAN neighbours. Serious efforts in developing and promoting tourism began only with the establishment of the Tourist Development Corporation Malaysia (TDCM) in 1972 and it took another 15 years before a specific ministry, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism (MOCAT) was set up in 1987. In April 2004, MOCAT was split to facilitate the establishment of a separate ministry responsible solely for matters related to tourism i.e. the Ministry of Tourism (MOT). This
POLICY AND PLANNING OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA ___________________________________________________________
Amran Hamzah Course Coordinator, Tourism Planning Programme Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built Environment Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor MALAYSIA ABSTRACT
Tourism is currently the second highest contributor to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after manufacturing. Despite its relatively late entrant as a ‘big time’ tourism player, the tourism industry in Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds since the early 1990’s. This paper will, firstly, trace the development of the tourism industry in Malaysia viz-a-viz its performance, institutional framework and policy planning initiatives. Secondly, it will discuss Malaysia’s efforts, successes and failures in promoting regional cooperation in tourism. Thirdly, the role of budget airlines, development of thematic/transborder heritage trails and growth in youth tourism will be evaluated in the light of multi-destination visitation. Fourthly, a SWOT Analysis will be used to discus the potential of improving regional cooperation in tourism as an economic venture as well as a tool for Asian cohesion. Finally, a list of action plans will be recommended to provide a systematic mechanism for enhancing regional cooperation in the region.
INTRODUCTION Malaysia is a relatively new entrant into tourism in relation to its ASEAN neighbours. Serious efforts in developing and promoting tourism began only with the establishment of the Tourist Development Corporation Malaysia (TDCM) in 1972 and it took another 15 years before a specific ministry, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism (MOCAT) was set up in 1987. In April 2004, MOCAT was split to facilitate the establishment of a separate ministry responsible solely for matters related to tourism i.e. the Ministry of Tourism (MOT). This
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