INFLUENCES SHAPE FUTURE (MALACCA)

If the ultra-modern architecture and forward-looking citizens of Kuala Lumpur symbolize Malaysia’s hopes for the future, then the quiet, seaside city of Malacca, about 150 kilometres to the south, is the guardian charged with the reflective task of preserving its past. Five hundred years ago, an extraordinary empire rose and fell here, its power and dreams suddenly caught off-guard by the dawn of the Colonial Era.

            State of Malacca was known as one of the top tourist destinations in Malaysia with its own unique cultural heritage, historic places to visit and of course food and others. Slogan that Visit Historic Malacca means visiting Malaysia is able to give a brief overview of what can be served to tourists by the different races here. Variants of this place as one of Melacca tourists destinations of distinction in the Asia. On July 7, 2008, have also been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage City and is now known as the “Malacca World Heritage City”.

            The city was so coveted by the European powers that the Portuguese writer Barbarosa wrote “whoever is Lord in Malacca has his hand on the throat of Venice”. It was a major port along the spice-route and its harbour bristled with the sails and masts of Chinese junks and spice-laden vessels from all over the hemisphere. Because the city was originally built of wood, there are no crumbling and stately reminders of the power once wielded by the Malaccan Sultanate, but along shores of the Malacca River the scene has probably changed little.

            Malacca is a place where many culture meet and fused. One of the most pronounced influence is the Portuguese architectural that one can see around Malacca. When the Portuguese came in 1511, they built a fort overlooking the river and named it A Famosa. It was built to maintain the Portuguese stronghold across the Far East, to date it is one of the oldest European Architecture present in South East Asia. Besides, The Portuguese Square is also a place to enjoy the Portuguese culture within Malacca. Its located 20 minutes from Malacca town, within the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir. The square is facing the sea where you can catch a hearty Portuguese food while enjoying the sea breeze.

            Apart from Portuguese influence, there is also Chinese descendant’s settler that have adopted into the local Malay culture through intermarriage, forming the distinct Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum to view the unique carving of furniture and house interior. As mentioned earlier, Malacca is a place where many culture meets. The Stadthuys, which means the Municipal Town Hall in Dutch and it’s the biggest and oldest Dutch building in Southeast Asia, located in Malacca Town Square. It was built when the Dutch took over Malacca from the Portuguese and it took nearly 20 years to completion where the building materials are imported from Netherlands.

            If tourists are an antic lover, Jonker Street will be a perfect place for them. Its pleasant for a slow stroll where they can get delicious local delicacies, Nyonya fashions and shoes as well as cafes and pubs. There are also a few Baba and Nyonya style accommodation in Jonker Street, where tourist can truly experience the living of the ‘Peranakan’, for example The Baba House. Otherwise, there are plenty of hotels around Malacca. Other attractions of Malacca include Marine Museum and Zoo Malacca.

IMPACT OF TOURISM ( MALACCA )

Malacca is the third smallest Malaysian state after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Straits of Malacca and Muar the Royal City. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and Johor to the south. The capital is Malacca City, which is 148 kilometres (92 miles) south east of Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur, 235 kilometres (146 miles) northwest of Johor’s largest city Johor Bahru, and 95km (59 miles) northwest of Johor’s second largest city, Batu Pahat. This historical city centre has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008.

Tourism is a booming industry in Malacca which leads to the benefit of the business communities, such as hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. It is a popular travel destination for Singaporeans during the weekends. Malacca have many tourist attractions like A Famosa Fort, Jonker Walk, Taming Sari Tower and others. Tourism helps to create employment and business opportunity in the most visited region in personal property. Positive effects on income will receive by both investors and employees in the industry. Effects of multiplication happen when tourists consume, government infrastructural investment and the purchasing power created by the enlargement income. In addition, foreign exchange for the receiving countries can be achieved from the exportation branch of international tourism. Although Malacca has many placed that suit for tourism, but Malacca also have certain impact on tourism like economic impact, environment impact and others.

              

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The economy of Malacca dated back more than 500 years ago due to its strategic location as the center for spice trade and its importance which influence the colonial countries to engage wars to control it. Malacca has adopted as its slogan “Visiting Malacca Means Visiting Malaysia”. Industrial areas are centred along the edges of the city proper in suburbs which include Batu Berendam, Cheng, Ayer Keroh and Taman Tasik Utama. While outside Malacca City, industrial areas include Alor Gajah. On 21 October 2010 an event was held to announce that Malacca had met the benchmark of ‘Developed State’ as set out by OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and a declaration of ‘Melaka Maju 2010’ was made by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abd Razak.

There are different factors that pose negative economic impacts on tourism, in case where tourists don't respect the traditions, culture or local life style of tourist destination, or seasonal jobs such as people are only employed when there are only high influx of tourist, which can lead to high rates of unemployment, furthermore, jobs involved in the tourism industry are seasonal and not well paid, this can be very dangerous for countries that has full become dependent on tourism as their main source of revenue. Infrastructure and incidental cost, this situation could occur when there is record or receipt of high level of damage on infrastructures than the amount earn from tourist visits Economic dependence, if Malacca eventually solely dependent on tourism may pose danger to their economy, this can cause the tourism sector to change overnight because of the natural disaster, terrorism, changing consumer taste and economic recession in the source of the country

As Malacca had gained a world heritage label in 2008, it had brought certain advantages or significant on Malacca Economic, state development, communities, social, education and site owners. For examples, there will be new business opportunities generated for a host, not least deriving from the prestigious Heritage listing. A wider development of a creative economy in Malacca is to be linked, as well as to cleaner, safer, more positive civic environment through commitment to a decent management plan. The plans like increased local, federal and international project funding access will be organized. An increase in tourist arrivals wills again leading to greater business opportunities and turnover. Cultural tourists are known to stay longer and spend more. Potential for investment in local artisans and craftspeople, with subsidies, training and identification of new commercial opportunities will be organized. The continuation of other development and business activities. Greater economic returns through appreciation in value and improve documentation of city and state.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Some people believe that tourism helps create a greater awareness and appreciation for the need to preserve the environment to capture its natural beauty for tourist purposes, and increase investments in the environmental infrastructure of the host country. Air pollution is primarily a result of emissions from vehicles and airplanes. In rural areas, air pollution due to tourism is minimal, but in congested areas, emissions harm vegetation, soil, and visibility. Water resources are a prime attraction for tourism and recreational developments, and they frequently suffer negative impacts.

The tourism industry produces large quantities of waste products. Hotels, airlines, attractions and other related businesses that serve tourists throw away tons of garbage a year. Visitor exhibited environmental concerns at the tourist surroundings. Memorable tourist and cultural heritage experiences were sought by these tourists. Heritage visitors were classified into memorable tourism experience seeker, cultural significant, responsible, willingness to pay and green tourist.

The future of Malacca’s tourism industry is well foretells with the World Heritage listing. This will bring in new business opportunities idle domestic or international and wishing the forwardness of cultural infrastructures. However, tourism can be a double-edged sword. It is critical to surveillance and minimize the negative impress of tourism, assuring against inverts of destiny (tourism industry unstably influenced by perishes and fuel prices) or over-success- in case fast gentrification, hovering asset prices and living costs compel the locals. Through the heritage trial design, the advantages of tourism could be promote for local communities and stakeholders by community groups, training and attaching them as administers, judge and retailers. A coordinated information platform could help to accelerate local initiatives such as cultural programs, home stays and small enterprises.

INVOLVEMENT STAGE

Involvement stage when local people start to provide some facilities for tourists. There starts to become a recognised tourist season.  In the earliest stage of destination lifecycle, the destination product and market share are usually unknown.

Thus the adoptions of correct strategies are absolutely necessary in order to forestall future issues ahead. These strategies include selling new product/ services to new markets and expand market share and build awareness among the tourist. By implementing both strategies, the destination hope to attain a strong market position before competitors enters.

From its humble beginnings as a tin mining town in the 1800s, Kuala Lumpur has transformed into a vibrant, bustling, cosmopolitan city that is home to more than seven million people.  Kuala Lumpur is defined within the borders of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and is one of three Malaysian Federal Territories.

It is an enclave within the stage of Selangor, on the central west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Since the 1990s, the city has played host to many international sporting, political and cultural events including the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the Formula One Grand Prix. In addition, Kuala Lumpur is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Twin Towers, which have become an iconic symbol of Malaysia’s futuristic development.