Main Tourism Sectorsin Malaysia: a Contribution Towards Economic
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Journal of Development Economics and Finance, Vol. 1 no. 1, pp 35-43 [Year] Main Tourism Sectorsin Malaysia: A Contribution Towards Economic Growth Ahmad Yunus Mohd Noor1 (Corresponding author) Asmilyia Mohd Mokhtar3 Sabri Mohamad Sharif2 Ahmad Sunawari Long1 Zaizul Ab Rahman1 Najwa Amalina Abdul Wahab1 1Center for Akidah & Global Peace, Faculty of Islamic Studies, National University of Malaysia,43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +6018-3958073 2Univesiti Teknikal Malaysia (UTeM) 3Celpad, International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) Abstract: The global awakening of growth and development is a situation that have been a phenomenon worldwide. In Malaysia, the main sources to that demand is tourism industry. Even though Malaysia is a small country, the uniqueness, difference, and privileges of this country is undebatable. This is a literature research that aims to define the main sector in this industry that playing roles as a stimulus for the country’s growth and development. This research has been done using textual analysis method by referring to news and other literatures. Results shown that there are five sectors in tourism industry stimulating country’s growth and development; health tourism, sustainable tourism, cultural tourism, eco-tourism and Islamic tourism. These five sectors have played the same role in their own ways. There are also contribute to the rise of income per capita and living standards of local communities. Some efforts to maintain and sustain in development should be complemented in each of the development activities. This is to ensure the sustainable perpetuity of ecosystem for the next generation. Keywords: Tourism, Development, Living Standards, Sustainability, Sectors 1. INTRODUCTION Tourism has been used as a medium to introduce a country to the outsiders such as the uniqueness of a ritual by a local community, the uniqueness of a community lifestyle in certain part in a country, introducing traditional food etc. From researcher’s observation, activities based on tourism has been done long ago without being specifically called as tourism. Based on Kamus Dewan fourth edition (2005), tourism is about anything related to travel or a person who is travelling, or services related to it. Meanwhile, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Melayu Utusan (1995) stated that tourism is a journey sight-seeing, walking, resting and the like. 1 Journal of Development Economics and Finance, Vol. 1 no. 1, pp 35-43 [Year] For example, in 11th century until the time before World War II, communities in that era has travelled visiting a place to another place with different purposes. They have been doing trades, learning, preaching, and establishing diplomatic relations between empires. As the time goes by, there are changes of rules, development of technologies, systems in trades, development of transportation etc. have turning those activities into an important role in stimulating economy of a country. Indeed, this industry has been classified in categories and there are organizations formed to ensure the activities in this industries going smoothly and meet the demands of tourists. In 2018, tourism industry has contributed RM84.1 billion for this country. This shown a significant rise as much as 2.4% which is in 2017 has been recorded income as much as RM8.2 billion (Bernama 2019). However, the amount of international tourists in 2018 which is 25.8 million shows a decreasing from 2017 which is 25.9 million. But, the amount of total expenses per capita of the international tourist rise up to RM3,257 in 2018 from RM3,266in 2017 with the percentage of the rising is 2.9%. The amount was from shopping (33.4%), accommodation (25.7%) and food and beverages (13.4%) (Bernama 2019). From the records, it clearly shows that tourism is the main stimulus in the economic development in this country. It helps in raising local infrastructures by improving facilities for public use as well as improving services in various sectors including transportation, securities, health, accommodation etc. 2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The research aims to achieve several objectives as the following: i). To review the concept of tourism industry in Malaysia. ii). To identify the main tourism sectors and their different activities as well as their services. iii). To enhance the sustainability of the tourism industry to all over the world. 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This qualitative research has been conducted using textual research. Texts in form of news, other literatures and previous researches from academic journals has been used to study and analyze. While analyzing has been done by using content analysis method. 4. RESULTS: MAIN TOURISM SECTORS Each tourism sector held different activities and services on their own ways. This is done to occupy tourist needs, increasing their level of satisfaction and to ensure they are comfy and cozy being in this country. 2 Journal of Development Economics and Finance, Vol. 1 no. 1, pp 35-43 [Year] 4.1Health tourism Malaysia has been recognized as the best tourism country in the world. This was caused by the good services and facilities in health field is at international level. Besides, medical cost in Malaysia, either government health center or private, is considered as affordable and reasonable compared to other countries. Hence, there are many of outsiders come to Malaysia to be treated especially from neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Philippine and Thailand. Utusan Online (Maisarah 2019) has reported about breeding treatment in Malaysia, health facilities in this country using latest and sophisticated tools. Besides, those in this field are experienced with international accreditation. With that advantageous, it provides comfortable to the patients yet increasing their satisfaction level during treatments. As a country that recognize Islam as official religion, halal status for each treatment and medicines used in this sector is guaranteed. Hence, Muslim tourist who are visiting this country would not be worried for the contents of medications in their treatments. This directly induce in making Malaysia as the best location for Muslim tourism from 2011-2019. Based from the same resource (Maisarah 2019), along the years of 2011-2016 health tourism has recorded amount of its tourist as much as 300%. Well managed health care system has form Malaysia as a country that have world class medical services. It is strictly controlled and observed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia through Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. Increasing of the amount stated in previous paragraph proves the confidence of patients receive treatments here and the effectiveness of treatments provided. In fact, the success percentage of a treatment (for example IVF treatment) has shown high percentage when a lot of tourists come to Malaysia for breeding treatment. Based record in health tourism it shows a rapid growth of tourists which is 1.2 million in 2018 compared to 643,000 in 2011. News portal Astro AWANI (Bernama 2019) has also confirmed statements and records by the Utusan Online. From health tourists visits Malaysia has successfully recorded income as much as RM1.5 billion. That amount can contribute as much as RM5 billion for Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) from all medical fields such as dentistry, cosmetics, health, logistics, and hospital services. Economic growth in this sector raised up to 16% to 17% each year which is beyond annual rate of global growth which is only 12% to 14%. There are five states that play the main roles in stimulating economic growth in health tourism; Penang, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Sarawak. Referring to the same portal (Bernama 2019), based on the growth in health tourism, Ministry of Financial Malaysia predicted the increase of health tourists to 2 million towards 2020. The prediction has been made due to the tax exception for medical bills. Deputy Ministry of Financial, Datuk Ir Amiruddin Hamzah said that Goods and Services Tax (GST) for medical bills before will be exempted with the enforcement of Sales and Service Tax (SST) lately. With the improvements and acknowledgements towards health service in Malaysia, it enhancing the elements and attraction in tourism industry for this country. It turns tourists visit 3 Journal of Development Economics and Finance, Vol. 1 no. 1, pp 35-43 [Year] not only focused to cultures and traditions in Malaysia but also experiencing world class medical services. 4.2 Sustainable Tourism Briefly sustainable tourism has been introduced and exercised to ensure the continuance of local values and cultures. In an article entitled Pembangunan Pelancongan Lestari di Melaka: Perspektif Pelancong (Development of sustainable tourism in Melaka: Tourists’ perspectives) by Er Ah Choy (2013) aimed to analyze sustainable tourism from tourists’ perspectives. This research focused on the tourism location in Alor Gajah, Ayer Keroh and Bandar Melaka. Results shown that most of the tourists chose Melaka as holiday destination with family. This is due to the old buildings such as Stadhuy’s, entrance of A’Famosa fortress and other historical heritages are well maintained. Community living in Kampung Morten are preserving their traditional dance and musics. The puppet-show and batik has attracted tourists to enjoy their visits. From this research it clearly shows the efforts in sustaining traditional and historical values in developing tourism. However, this research doesn’t show the effort in sustaining Islamic values in tourism. 4.3Cultural Tourism An article entitled Mitos dan lagenda sebagai produk pelancongan di Malaysia: Kajian kes Lembah Lenggong (Myths and legends as tourism product in Malaysia: case study Lembah Lenggong) by Fatimah Hassan and Hamid Mohd Isa (2014) focused on the suitability of raising local myths and legend as cultural tourism product using Lembah Lenggong as a location for this case study. This article stated that elements in Lembah Lenggong can be tourist’s attraction from its myths and legends including the origin of the name Lembah Lenggong, the story of Gua Puteri, Batu Puteri atau Batu Gajah.