Urban tourism concept in developing countries: qualitative study to the case of Melaka City, Malaysia

Most of the literature on the urban tourism phenomenon is based on the experience of cities in developed countries (e.g. United Kingdom, Western Europe and Northern America), while the study of urban tourism in developing countries has received little academic attention. This gap requires more exploration due to the unique characteristics and development of cities in developing countries. Melaka City demonstrates the increasing profile of tourism as a key urban function and portrays the strong interest of government in using tourism as a development tool. In this context, a case study methodology has been employed and a qualitative method was chosen in which interviews were conducted for the research. Thus, this paper attempts to provide a better understanding of the phenomenon and the complexity of urban tourism based on qualitative approach. The key information sources are based on the perspectives or views of those responsible for tourism planning in the city

A new empirical model to predict stress intensity factor for double interacting surface cracks located in hollow cylinder

Fracture in cylinders is one of the most popular types of failure. Owing to the impact of production processes, nondestructive testing, and severe operational conditions, etc., cracks exist. The cracks could be detected in single or multiple form, where multiple cracks considered among the significant concerns that cylinders expected to experience. This is because in the existence of multiple neighboring cracks, crack interaction can take place between cracks and accelerates fracture process and lead to a catastrophic failure. Consequently, this study focuses on the problem of double interacting surface cracks located on external and internal surfaces of a hollow cylinder and oriented into parallel and non-coplanar parallel cracks configuration. Stress Intensity Factor (SIFs) has been chosen as the driving force to define the crack interaction. The SIFs have been analyzed for a wide variety of crack geometry, and cylinder type as well as separation distances utilizing finite element software Ansys under different types of mechanical loadings. Based on the analysis results, an empirical mathematical model was produced to predict the SIFs for double parallel cracks using the SIFs for a single crack, for thick and thin cylinders, separately. The empirical model was verified in terms of performance evaluation metrics, which exhibited prediction error less than 5%. Also, it is shown that crack interaction influence for parallel cracks demonstrated by shielding interaction influence only, while both shielding, and amplification impacts produced for non-coplanar cracks. The crack separation distance (horizontal and angular) between the cracks displayed substantial influence on interaction since it exhibited the ability to convert the interaction behavior from shielding to amplification impact (for angular). The presented results in this research serve the literature database since SIFs for a wide variety of cracks geometry have been introduced under different types of loading. Besides, the proposed mathematical model could be used easily and confidently as it displayed a high rate of accuracy

Urban spatial growth model as a tool to plan for sustainable urban future

Much has been said about planning for sustainable urban future. However, it is difficult to find practical and workable solution to ensure the sustainability of urban development. Malaysia for example, is one of the most urbanized countries in East Asia, however; Kuala Lumpur urban area is one of the largest in the region as measured by area but the least dense in East Asia. This is due to the expansion of urban area is not properly controlled. The aim of this paper is to propose an urban growth boundary as a planning mechanism to plan for sustainable urban development. Taking the George Town Conurbation as the study area, this paper demonstrated the application of spatial temporal model of urban growth that can simulate future urban spatial growth. Land use data obtained from the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning (FDTCP) will be used as sources of the data. The model will be developed using ArcGIS software and simulated using Idrisi Kilimanjaro software. Then, based on land demand and land suitability, future urban spatial growth will be planned within urban growth boundary. Such as approach allows land demand to be allocated in a sustainable manner. The model will be useful in planning for future urban spatial growth

The capacity of education facilities and the implications for the well-being of the people in Mukim Serendah

The population growth in an area has a strong connection with the capacity of the facilities enjoyed by the population. At present, Mukim Serendah is enjoying rapid population growth. The population growth has impacted some of the provided facilities which are no longer capable to meet the demands of the population. The study was conducted to examine the capacity of education facilities and it implications for the population's wellbeing. This study uses a capacity-based analysis based on the Community Facilities Planning Guidelines issued by the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia in 2013. The study used secondary data involving population data, number of schools and, number of students. A total of 400 respondents in Mukim Serendah were involved in this study. The study found that there were differences in the capacity of educational facilities in Mukim Serendah. Educational facilities in Mukim Serendah mostly do not meet the targetted standards. The under equipped facilities had affected students, teachers and parents. The results of this study are important to the party responsible for the planning of educational facilities to ensure adequate and better facilities for the residents in the future. Areas that are lacking in the carrying capacity of educational facilities need to be improved by adding the number of schools. Therefore, these educational facilities would meet the needs and improve the wellbeing of the population

Mixed methods inquiries in the assessment of development guidelines for the Geodesic Dome Visitors’ Centre at Pulau Payar

This chapter describes the methodology used in the in the assessment of the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning (JPBD) Island Development Guidelines and the impacts of Pulau Payar Geodesic Dome Centre on the surrounding environment of the Pulau Payar Marine Park. This research aims was to understand the extent of the implementation of the JPBD Island Development Guidelines in the physical planning of the Visitors’ Centre and the impacts of the development on the surrounding environment. This chapter explains the various methods used to obtain data regarding the assessment and the impacts of the Visitors Centre. This research applies qualitative research utilising several techniques for data collection such as semi-structured interviews, structured observation using checklist method, visual method and document analysis

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.

Predicting and simulating future land use pattern : a case study of Seremban district

As long as rapid urbanization which is a result of natural population growth and rural urban migration due to push and pull factors of social and economic conditions as well as the moving of urban populations from major city centres to urban fringe areas due to changing lifestyle which emphasized on spacious and more comfortable and environmentally friendly living environment continue to happen; towns and cities will continue to grow and expand to accommodate the growing and complex demand of the people. Experiences have shown that rapid and uncontrolled expansion of towns and cities has led to amongst others the deterioration in the quality of urban environment and sprawling of urban development onto prime agricultural and forest areas as well as cities starting to lose their identity. In order to avoid such phenomena continuing to happen, particularly in the Kuala Lumpur Conurbation Area, towns and cities need to be properly planned and managed so that their growth or expansion can be controlled and managed in a sustainable manner. One of the strategies adopted to curb sprawling development is through the delineation of urban growth or development limits (UGL). This means that the limit of towns and cities need to be studied and identified, so that urban development can be directed to areas that are identified and specified suitable for such development. One of the main tasks in the process of delineating UGL has been included as an important task in the preparation of development plans. With such policy a research study is now being carried out to develop a spatial modelling framework towards delineating UGL through the application and integration of spatial technologies and this will be a basis or framework for land use planners, managers and policy makers to formulate urban land use policies and monitor urban land use development. One of the main analysis involve in the process of performing this task is to understand past urban land development trend and to predict and identify future urban growth areas of the selected study area. This paper highlights the integration of statistical modeling technique via binary logistic regression analysis with GIS technology in understanding and predicting urban growth pattern and area as applied to District of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. The result shows that urban land use pattern in the study area within the study period are significantly related to more than half of the predictors used in the analysis

Modelling the relationship between urban form and social sustainability in Malaysian cities : access to local services and public facilities

This research concerned to establish the relationship between urban form and social sustainabilityin two Malaysian cities. Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya are the two cities selected purposely as the case study cities because of their distinctive characteristics. Specifically, this research looks in detail at the aspect of access to local services and facilities according to different aspects of urban form, such as density, building/ housing type, land use mix and layout. Urban form elements such as mixed land use and density appear to have significant impact on access and usage pattern of certain local services and facilities located within the case study cities (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya). Another important factor towards higher access to services and facilities within the neighbourhood is the respondents‘ perceptions of mobility. Aspects of safety also impact on the access and usage pattern of the respondents towards the services and local facilities within their local neighbourhood. However, satisfaction towards the neighbourhood does not influence the access or usage pattern of the local services and facilities. The research provides one of the first attempts to investigate the relationship between urban form and its impact upon social sustainability in Malaysian cities., It exposes local issues and problems related to the access and usage of local services and facilities within residential neighbourhoods which corresponds with issues highlighted in the National Urbanisation Policy (NUP) (Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia, 2006). Findings suggest that local planning authorities should ensure that residential neighbourhood/ developments are well connected to local services and facilities – by improving public transport & pedestrian networks. It is also important that neighbourhood safety is properly addressed

Identifying Culs-De-Sac courtyard neighbourhoods in Shah Alam / Anniz Fazli Ibrahim Bajunid, Mohamed Yusoff Abbas and Abdul Hadi Nawawi.

Culs-de-sac in Shah Alam, have begun to take centre stage, especially in the high-end neighbourhood developments. Typically, these neighbourhoods can be easily identified. However, in contrast to developed nations, the local municipality has yet to begin identifying neighbourhood typologies. This paper endeavors to elucidate a sampling or identification process procedures of the cul-de-sac neighbourhood. The cul-de-sac was identified by observing intersection connectivity, link-node ratios, as well as street segment analysis; an assimilation of techniques used in recent western methodologies. Scaled macro to micro map analysis aligned sequentially in sieves, allow for identification of specific cul-de-sac syntax; one in particular is the cul-de-sac courtyards

Sub-classification processes of the Cul-de-sac courtyards / Anniz Fazli Ibrahim Bajunid … [et al.]

Shah Alam has exhibited flourishing cul-de-sac courtyard neighbourhoods, which has stirred debatable interests. The objective of this paper is to continue the discourse in measurable analysis of subclassifications. The paper assembles physical data with key characteristics that make-up the physical construct of a cul-de-sac courtyard by administering measurements, observations and checklists. The sub-classification processes led to preliminary key factors such as density, size, design forms and user implications. 18 cul-de-sac courtyards in Shah were catalogued and inventoried, elucidating its syntax. The database introduced potential in longitudinal research of the socio-spatial micro-neighbourhood unit, towards pragmatic applications in emergent design practices