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Residents’ perception toward tourism development: a pre-development perspective

S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh (School of Housing, Building, and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia)
Mastura Jaafar (School of Housing, Building, and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia)

Journal of Place Management and Development

ISSN: 1753-8335

Article publication date: 14 March 2016

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the positive and negative perceptions of residents towards tourism development in Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang), an underdeveloped rural area that is targeted for world heritage site inscription because of its archaeological value.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data among residents and 143 questionnaire were returned.

Findings

The results demonstrated that the residents of Bujang Valley have generally positive perceptions towards tourism development and are agreeable with supporting tourism development. Moreover, these results were highly correlated with one another, with residents’ positive perceptions having a positive effect on their support for tourism development, and negative perceptions have a negative effect on their support for tourism development.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can assist the Bujang Valley local authorities to improve the support and participation of residents in tourism planning and conservation programmes, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the resident perception literature by examining the effects of residents’ perceptions on their support for tourism in an underdeveloped rural area in the developing world.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their appreciation to the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for the research grant entitled (Heritage Awareness and Interpretation) [Grant No 1,001/PTS/8660012] that made this paper possible.

Citation

Rasoolimanesh, S.M. and Jaafar, M. (2016), "Residents’ perception toward tourism development: a pre-development perspective", Journal of Place Management and Development, Vol. 9 No. 1, pp. 91-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMD-10-2015-0045

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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