INFLUENCES SHAPE FUTURE(JOHOR)

The major influences that will shape the future of tourism are based on the urban tourism. Johor has been well-known for its city sight and urbanization. There are a few important things that influence the future of tourism in Johor.

The first and foremost is the Johor economic. In 2008, Johor's economy grew in line with Malaysia's economic development. Johor's GDP Growth was 5.2%.The manufacturing sector faced tribulations and several sectors had shown sluggish performance due to a drop in export and weak local markets related to the slow development of the construction sector. The services sector saved Johor's economy. This sector showed continuous growth at an average of 8% as a result of an increase in the transportation sector. This shows that in any condition, the economy still plays a very important role in shaping the future of tourism since the service sector which related to tourism is very dominant.

The next influential factor in shaping Johor tourism is the infrastructure.  The most relevant thing that connects tourists to Johor is of course the infrastructure, which will be including the roads, highways and airport for easy access. One of the major highways in Johor is the East-West Highway,this 75km highway project will link Senai to Desaru, providing a new and faster road link to the east coast of Johor. The highway involved a bridge across the Sungai Johor from Kong Kong on the west to Teluk Sengat in Kota Tinggi. The next one is Pasir Gudang Highway from the new CIQ Complex is being built to disperse traffic away from the Johor Bahru city centre. These highways will cut the time of travelling thus connecting more tourists’ spots.

The second most influential thing is the utilities. Energy provided by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the national electricity provider operated by the private- sector. It is the largest in the industry with more than RM60.0 billion assets, serving over six million customers throughout all sate in Malaysia. As reported on Oct. 31, 2012, TNB has posted a higher net profit of RM 1 billion in the fourth quarter compared to RM600 million in the third quarter of 2012. By 2013 the company targeted to expand its power resource from solely depending on fuel and coal to LNG. As reported by TNB their LNG based power plant could be ready by the first quarter of 2013. These plants which providing energy to power the state is virtue since it is the core that is empowering all of the system and infrastructure in Johor.

Lastly, but just as important in other to shape the future tourism in Johor is the population. The people who resides Johor, they are very important since they the one who will provide services for tourists; they are the one doing the maintenance and keeping the place generated. Johor's population, estimated at 3.17 million in 2006, is projected to grow to 4.4 million by 2020. In terms of ethnic breakdown, the Malays (Bumiputeras) comprise 54%, Chinese (33%) and Indians (6%). The active workforce in Johor was increased by 2.43% per year between 1991 and 2000. During this 9 year period, a total of 256,900 job opportunities were created, while unemployment dropped from 3.3% in 1991 to 2.3% in 2000.The availability of manpower, in fact, is projected to grow further by 2.88% between now and 2020. Unemployment is also projected to decline from 2.3% in 2000 to 2.0% in 2020.

In conclusion, the future of tourism lies in the hands of all of these factors combined. As an urban tourism area, it is vital for Johor to keep at pace with the continuous advancement of technology and infrastructure for the sake of its future.

IMPACT OF TOURISM (JOHOR )

Johor, the southernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia, is made up of eight districts comprising Johor Bahru, Pontian, Batu Pahat, Muar, Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Kluang and Segamat. It has a long coastline flanking the Straits of Malacca on its western seaboard and the South China Sea on the east.

Its capital city, Johor Bahru, or “JB” as it is popularly known, is the main administrative centre for the state government and a bustling commercial hub. This southernmost Malaysian city sits right next to the national boundary between Malaysia and Singapore where they are connected via the Causeway. Thirty kilometres southwest of Johor Bahru is the Second Link which connects Tanjung Kupang to Tuas in Singapore. Located within the district are the Sultan Ismail International Airport, Johor Causeway, Second Link and the Johor Bahru International Ferry Terminal.

Johor’s vast landscape is characterized by plantations of pineapple, rubber, coconut and oil palm on the fringes of which also nestle tranquil kampungs and quaint fishing villages. Retaining much of its natural splendours, the state has miles of golden sandy beaches and beautiful offshore islands with clear waters which are excellent for diving. It is also endowed with several forest reserves. Nature lovers will find a visit to the Endau-Rompin National Park an unforgettable experience. Johor also boasts some of the best golf courses in the country.

A land of diverse and distinct cultures, its population comprises mainly Malays, Chinese and Indians and cultural expressions can take many forms such as dresses, customs, beliefs, ceremonies, celebrations, dances, games and past times.

One of the know region in Johor is Iskandar. Iskandar Malaysia formerly known as Iskandar Development Region (IDR) (Malay: Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar and South Johor Economic Region (SJER) is the main southern development corridor in Johor, Malaysia. The Iskandar Malaysia was established on 8 November 2006.The project is administered by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and was named after the late Sultan of Johor, Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.

The development region encompasses an area of 2,217 square kilometres covering the city of Johor Bahru and the adjoining towns of Pontian, Senai, Pasir Gudang and the construction of a new administrative capital in Nusajaya. Johor Bahru District is included in its entirety, as are parts of the district of Pontian. Five local government authorities have jurisdiction over the covered area, including Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (Johor Bahru City Council), Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah (Johor Bahru Tengah Municipal Council), Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang (Pasir Gudang Municipal Council), Majlis Perbandaran Kulai (Kulai Municipal Council), and Majlis Daerah Pontian (Pontian District Council).

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Tourism sectors are seen as the future economic drivers for Johor’s economy. Stating this Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that with the tourism lure such as the Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios, Legoland and Hello Kitty Town theme parks, the sector has high potential for expansion.

Direct financial contributions

Tourism in Johor can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitat. Revenue from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas. Special fees for park operations or conservation activities can be collected from tourists or tour operators.

Contributions to government revenues

Johor governments collect money in more far-reaching and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or conservation areas. User fees, income taxes, taxes on sales or rental of recreation equipment, and license fees for activities such as hunting and fishing can provide the governments with the funds needed to manage natural resources. Such funds can be used for overall conservation programs and activities, such as park ranger salaries and park maintenance.

ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT

Improved environmental management and planning

Sound environmental management of tourism facilities and especially hotels in Johor can increase the benefits to natural areas. But this requires careful planning for controlled development, based on analysis of the environmental resources of the area. Planning is helps to make choices between conflicting uses, or to find ways to make them compatible. By planning early for tourism development, damaging and expensive mistakes can be prevented, avoiding the gradual deterioration of environmental assets significant to tourism.

Cleaner production techniques can be important tools for planning and operating tourism facilities in a way that minimizes their environmental impacts. For example, green building (using energy-efficient and non-polluting construction materials, sewage systems and energy sources) is an increasingly important way for the tourism industry to decrease its impact on the environment. And because waste treatment and disposal are often major, long-term environmental problems in the tourism industry, pollution prevention and waste minimization techniques are especially important for the tourism industry.

Protection and preservation

Tourism can significantly contribute to Johor environmental protection, conservation and restoration of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources. Because of their attractiveness, pristine sites and natural areas are identified as valuable and the need to keep the attraction alive can lead to creation of national parks and wildlife parks.

Tourism has had a positive effect on wildlife preservation and protection efforts. Numerous animal and plant species have already become extinct or may become extinct soon. Many countries have therefore established wildlife reserves and enacted strict laws protecting the animals that draw nature-loving tourists. As a result of these measures, several endangered species have begun to thrive again. This does include Johor.

REJUVENATION / DECLINE STAGE

Rejuvenation

After all of the stages as suggested by the Butler theory has passed, there would only be two follow ups of consequences. One is the rejuvenation where a tourist destination is renewed and made improvements. In many cases, combined government and private efforts are necessary, and the new market may be not the allocentric section of the population (which would suggest a recommencement of the complete cycle), but rather a specific interest or activity group.

Ultimately, however, it can be expected that even the attractions of the rejuvenated tourist area will lose their competitiveness. Only in the case of the truly unique area could one anticipate an almost timeless attractiveness, able to withstand the pressures of visitation. Even in such a case, human tastes and preferences would have to remain constant over time for visitors to be attracted.

Many established tourist areas in Kuala Lumpur, and elsewhere attract visitors who have spent their vacations in these areas consistently for several decades, and the preferences of these repeat visitors show little sign of changing. In the majority of cases, though, the initial selection of the area to be visited by these people was determined by cost and accessibility rather than specific preferences.

Declines

As for the declining stage of tourist spots which can be predicted as the opposing results from the rejuvenation , Research by Plog into the psychology of travel, and the characterization of travellers as allocentrics, mid-centrics, and psychocentrics, substantiates Christaller’s argument.6 Plog suggests that tourist areas are attractive to different types of visitors as the areas evolve, beginning with small numbers of adventuresome allocentrics, followed by increasing numbers of mid-centrics as the area becomes accessible, better serviced, and well known, and giving way to declining numbers of psychocentrics as the area becomes older, more outdated, and less different to the areas of origin of visitors.

While the actual numbers of visitors may not decline for a long time, the potential market will reduce in size as the area has to compete with others that are more recently developed. Plog sums up his argument thus: ‘We can visualize a destination moving across a spectrum, however gradually or slowly, but far too often inexorably toward the potential of its own demise. Destination areas carry with them the potential seeds of their own destruction, as they allow themselves to become more commercialized and lose their qualities which originally attracted tourists.’