INFLUENCES SHAPE FUTURE(PENANG)

Penang is the most established beach holiday destinations in Malaysia. Regardless of its small size, Penang was famous far its beaches and heritage buildings. At the same time, for many years, the tourism industry in Penang has focused on attracting more tourists to the Island; however, little has been done to improve information infrastructures to provide the information needed by visitors. There are only modest facilities regarding both pre-trip and in-trip information for tourists. As tourist information infrastructure is an important element to increase the quality of visitors’ experience, the absence of simple and basic amenities at the destinations will spoil their enjoyment. In fact, sufficient information is not only vital to provide accurate information to tourists, but also significant to promote the destinations.

The existing information infrastructure in Penang Island, since many tourists come to Penang required more attention in terms of information facilities provided. Some of the tourists managed to find accurate information and efficiently because there is a lack of information infrastructure needed by tourists. It is suggested that tourism related agencies need to put more emphasis on promotion as well as information facilities in the Island. The distribution of information resources has recently received particular attention in the tourism industry. Various types of information infrastructures are prepared for tourists to gain and expand their knowledge of a destination e.g. internet, brochure, signage, travel agent, media, and tourism information centre.

To promote Penang, a medium to long term communication and marketing plan is needed. Accurate and timely information will spread effectively through a well-designed and well maintained website. Furthermore, when tourists arrive in Penang, it is hypothesized that there is a lack of information infrastructure for them to access tourist’s facilities, attractions, and accommodations. In addition, there are other existing issues such as poor maintenance of infrastructures and facilities, lack of publicity and unattractive tourism events. Therefore, it is timely for Penang to review the issues to evaluate the availability of information infrastructure for tourists, as well as to identify the way it can be enhanced.

Besides that, promote sustainability of the cultural forms will influence the Penang’s urban tourism level. Cultural tourism refers to travel directed towards experiencing the arts, heritage and special character of a place. Cultural tourist experiences would include watching the performing arts, visiting historic sites and monuments, museums, natural heritage sites and taking part in religious festivals. Providing accurate and substantial information and interpretation of the heritage and the living traditions mark the initial phase of development of a cultural tourist destination. It is thus important to map, interpret, document and devise creative ways to disseminate the multicultural traditions of Penang which include the performing arts, crafts, and festivals.

In the last ten years, mainly through the educational efforts of international bodies such as UNESCO, the notion of heritage has expanded beyond the built and natural environment to include living culture. More importantly, conservation efforts are being focused more on the sustainability link between built and living culture. In inner-city George Town, although the communities and their products become a ‘showcase’ when promoting living cultural heritage , the tourism industry is slow to involve the community in policies related to interpretation, promotion, management and marketing. Only a selection of endangered crafts and trades, foods and festivals have benefited and developed from being given recognition (awards and press articles, promotional trails and brochures and academic documentation). There is a lack of documentation of community cultural assets which results in ignorance on the part of stakeholders involved in tourism as well as the community itself who may not perceive of the assets as having heritage or cultural value. This lack of awareness among community and stakeholders is an obstacle to the development of sustainable cultural tourism, where we see destruction or sale of valuable assets, and often development and promotion of products not authentic to the community or space.

In addition, a Malaysia tourism website design shows that most of these websites are text-heavy and loaded with information but have little regard for usability. Malaysian web designers and developers are unaware of the importance of user-centred web designs which can attract tourists and promote the sustainability of cultural tourism.

To develop a Penang cultural tourism website, it must employ the user centred design approach. The website aims to disseminate the multicultural traditions of Penang which include the performing arts, crafts and festivals. Lastly, government also need to develop community driven tourism and the development of the community’s existing resources and creativity to improve Penang.