Padang Besar has been well known with its shopping activities since the establishment of several shopping venues at the town. However, the development and shopping facilities offered to the visitors seem insufficient. Hence, the main purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the border shopping scenario at Padang Besar, in terms of its development, activities and
facilities. Grounded theory qualitative data analysis strategy was employed as an attempt to understand the border shopping scenario from the tourism supply chains perspective. The data was gathered through an initial interview followed by a final interview, and observation. Open coding, selective coding and theoretical coding were identified and categorized based on the data collected, the destination supply factors, and the retails factors at Padang Besar. Each coding was analyzed using constant comparative method to present the final conceptual mapping of shopping scenario at Padang Besar. The relationship between border shopping development, border shopping activities and border shopping facilities were also introduced in this study as a new theory of study in border shopping. The result of the study reveal that Padang Besar
Business Arcade Complex (PBAC) is the anchor for shopping activities and represent what is perceived to be the main attraction at Padang Besar. Cheap imitation goods offered are the main reasons visitors shop at PBAC. The study concludes that shopping activities and trading activities at PBAC are the main reasons behind the infrastructure development at Padang Besar. The findings also indicate the tourism supply chains in Padang Besar have failed to cooperate with each other and thus had resulted in improper planning and development of the town. The town of Padang Besar does have a potential to be developed into a border shopping tourism destination since the town itself is associated mainly with border shopping activities.
Nevertheless, it requires a concrete support from the govenment, private investors and the tourism destination supply chain in supporting the border shopping venues at Padang Besar with adequate and proper development of shopping infrastructure, facilities and amenities to the
visitors
