A REVIEW ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN MALAYSIA

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was introduced to measure the benefit or cost from physical development to the public and community. In Malaysia, EIA was initiated in 1988 as a mandatory legislative requirement to protect and enhance the quality of the environment through licensing, setting of standards, coordination of research and dissemination of information to the public. Public involvement in assessment period is vital, and this conceptual paper identifies that there are three levels of participation in EIA. However, public participation in EIA in Malaysia, in general, is only instrumental due to weaknesses in regulation, lack of awareness and expertise among the public. This further raises the question of effective EIA implementation when public representation is characterized by pseudo participation and select involvement rather than broad participation of all community members, which is an important prerequisite for effective public participation.EIA, community involvement, public participation process

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA. A REVIEW ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Tourism development in Malaysia began since 1960s. Embarking on the strategy to develop rural areas and provide diversity in national economy, tourism industry drastically become as the second most important sector after petroleum. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review the progress of tourism development in Malaysia from the period of the First Malaysian Plan (1966-1970) until the Ninth Malaysian Plan (2006-2010). This paper is also discussed several approaches related to tourism administration and policy taken by the federal government as stated in the New Economic Policy (1970) and the National Tourism Master Plan (1975). Further elaboration is then centred on the growth of tourism industry in Malaysia from 1987 to 2009.Tourism development, Malaysia Plan, international arrival, tourism growth.

Sudjelovanje javnosti u donošenju odluka - procesi i izazovi

The implementation of the public participation process is important for the democratisation of social values and better planning and fulfilment of public needs. The public participation process, however, is sometimes threatened by bureaucratic constraints caused by the lack of a systematic approach and an inadequate public administration system, which contribute to the public exclusion from the process. The exclusion is also caused by the lack of knowledge about public participation and low levels of education amongst the public. With this in view, this paper reviewed four approaches to public participation in four countries: Denmark, the Philippines, Canada and the United Kingdom. The dimensions of public participation developed by Uphoff and Cohen were then used for data analysis, interpretation and conclusions drawn by discussing the grounds for public inclusion and exclusion from the decision-making process.Implementacija procesa sudjelovanja javnosti u donošenju odluka važna je za demokratizaciju društvenih vrijednosti te bolje planiranje i ostvarenje javnih potreba. Tom procesu, međutim, ponekad prijete birokratske prepreke uzrokovane nesistematskim pristupom i neadekvatnim administrativnim sistemom što pridonosi isključenju javnosti iz procesa. Nedostatak znanja o sudjelovanju javnosti u donošenju odluka te nizak stupanj obrazovanja te iste javnosti dodatno utječe na njeno isključenje. Imajući sve to u vidu, ovaj rad razmatra četiri pristupa problemu građanske participacije u četiri zemlje: Danskoj, Filipinima, Kanadi i Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu. Dimenzije participacije Uphoffa i Cohena korištene su za analizu i interpretaciju podataka kao i zaključke o razlozima inkluzije i ekskluzije javnosti u procesu donošenja odluka

Chenang Beach and its Crowding Capacity: A Malaysian Perspective

This working paper focuses in enjoyment factors, specifically: number of beach users, perceived maximum number of beach users accepted, perceived maximum number of beach users that affects the tourism experience and perceived maximum number of beach users that affects the beach quality. At a deeper extent, the evaluation is categorized by number of visitation, visitation motivations, and Chenang Island’s push and pull factors. Relationships between variables were assessed using a two-phase evaluation framework where interestingly, only one demographic factor works with all the studied independent variables. It is also learned that the density of an area (number of people seen) is considered as an accepted crowding factor, as opposed to this working paper scope (experienced crowding). A unique relationship was observed for crowding level, and visitation satisfaction level and overall evaluation of Chenang beach quality. This working paper further supports the previous literature on the significance of beach carrying capacity management and it is learned that the idea of crowding standard is interlinks with ‘gender, ‘time spend’ and ‘number of boaters’. From findings, this working paper envisages the preferences polar exchange where this should be of interest to tourism-related personnel. It is within this working paper interest to highlight the pressing need in brandishing the image of Chenang Beach. This is to ensure that Chenang Beach, as a field, is maintaining its importance and popularity

Community Development Strategies for Tourism Development in Langkawi Islands, Malaysia

Community capacity building is widely acknowledged as a crucial tool to foster the process of tourism development. In Langkawi, rapid transformation of the island leads to the marginalisation of the rural economy. As a result, various strategies and tools have been attempted to empower local community participation in tourism activities. This article aims to examine the existing strategies adopted by related stakeholders in Langkawi to work with local communities. For this purpose, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 local stakeholders including government and non-governmental agencies, community leaders, and tourism business operators. Results of the interviews indicated that the existing strategies and tools of capacity building approach include (1) education and training, (2) small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) projects, (3) environmental conservation strategies, and (4) partnership building. In conclusion, related authorities and tourism planners need to consider local residents\u27 opinions into the implementation process to ensure positive outcomes from the community development strategies

Beach Users’ Perceptions Toward Beach Quality and Crowding: A Case of Cenang Beach, Langkawi Island, Malaysia

This chapter focuses on beach users’ perceptions toward beach quality aspects and crowding as well as investigating beach users’ main preferred activities and their motivations to choose Cenang beach in Langkawi Island as a major destination for holidaymakers in Malaysia. Questionnaire surveys on a total of 400 local and international beach users were carried out (January and February 2014). This study revealed that physical and morphological aspects of the beach have been recognized by beach users as the most important aspects of beach quality while environmental issues were ranked as the less important. Swimming and sunbathing were identified as the main preferred activities by users and landscape, water and sand cleanliness were identified as the most important reasons for choosing Cenang beach to visit. This study also found that the increased beach’s sand availability does not necessarily reduce the degree of crowdedness felt by beach users

Long-Haul Travel Motivation by International Tourist to Penang

Long-haul travel does not constitute an obstacle for tourists to travel and is fast gaining the attention of tourists in new and unique experiences. This study was conducted to identify the long-haul travel motivation by international tourists to Penang. A total of 400 respondents participated in this survey, conducted around the tourist attractions in Penang, using cluster random sampling. However, only 370 questionnaires were only used for this research. Data were analysed using SPSS software 22 version. The findings, ‘knowledge and novelty seeking’ were the main push factors that drove long-haul travel by international tourists to Penang. Meanwhile, the main pull factor that attracts long-haul travel by international tourists to Penang was its ‘culture and history’. Additionally, there were partly direct and significant relationships between socio-demographic, trip characteristics and travel motivation (push factors and pull factors). Overall, this study identified the long-haul travel motivations by international tourists to Penang based on socio-demographic, trip characteristics and travel motivation and has indirectly helped in understanding the long-haul travel market particularly for Penang and Southeast Asia. This research also suggested for an effective marketing and promotion strategy in providing useful information that is the key to attract international tourists to travel long distances

Multi-Modality at Tourism Destination: An Overview of the Transportation Network at The UNESCO Heritage Site Melaka, Malaysia

Antecedents of a tourism destination’s sustainability and competitiveness rely on its transportation networks to facilitate the movement of traffic for locals and tourist alike. Multi-modality is vital to support the local economies, which garner its revenue from tourism activities. Modality plays a vital role to facilitate the mobility of tourists, inter destinations and within the destinations and relates to the accessibility aspects at a tourism destination. An observational study, paired with a comprehensive analysis of literature, is conducted to explore the gamut of the transportation networks in Melaka and its relation and contribution to the tourism industry. The investigation shows that the Melaka’s tourism industry is dependent on the transportation networks. Public transportations are found to be inadequate. Issues such as seasonal congestion and public transportation inadequacy need to be addressed immediately to ensure that smooth flow and dispersal of traffic, entering and exiting Melaka

A Framework for Understanding Travel Intention Post-Pandemic to International Tourist Destinations

The main goal of this paper is to shed light on risk perception, travel motivation, and destination image as significant factors in travel intention to international destinations. Understanding the influence of these factors is a strong trend in tourism research. However, limited studies have developed a model to understand global tourist travel intentions post-COVID-19. Because of the pandemic constraints, the world economy and the tourism sector have faced severe negative consequences. These consequences led to a drop in the number of international tourists, representing the primary source of tourism income contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for many developing countries. Governments and stakeholders are striving to ensure the recovery of tourism services and products to attract tourists to safe destinations. Based on the review and analysis of selected studies, this study highlights the significance of critical factors influencing tourists\u27 intention to travel post-pandemic. Additionally, this contribution offers a framework for future studies on crisis-related travel behavior

Shortcomings of public participation to the decision making process in tourism planning: the case of the Langkawi Islands, Malaysia

Public participation in the decision making process is regarded as an important tool for successful tourism planning. However, in reality, public participation merely at an early stage due to several structural and operational limitations in planning process. A study in Langkawi Islands was conducted to explore and examine approaches used during the preparation of the Langkawi Structure Plan 1990- 2005 and the Langkawi Local Plan 2001-2015. 40 interviews had been conducted with stakeholders in the tourism industry and analysed using ‘framework technique’. Finally, this study found that the limitation of public participation in tourism planning was caused by the weaknesses of the participation approach and the regulation of the Town Planning Act (Act 172) in the Malaysian Planning System. Therefore, it is suggest that an improvement in public participation process in the Langkawi Islands needs to emphasise more towards participation approach and its relationships with the Malaysian Planning System, to ensure that all related issues will be taken into consideration