Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists

Scenic beauty is an important component of the tourism industry in the highland environment of Malaysia. This paper presents the differences in scenic beauty preferences between local and foreign tourists visiting the Cameron Highlands, using a questionnaire survey (n = 439). The aim of t...

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Main Author: Othman, Jamilah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Center for Promoting Ideas (CPI), USA 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/1/Scenic_beauty_preferences_of_Cameron_Highlands_Malaysia-_local_versus_foreign_tourists.pdf
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spelling iium-38632011-11-21T13:40:06Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/ Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists Othman, Jamilah GE Environmental Sciences GV Recreation Leisure Scenic beauty is an important component of the tourism industry in the highland environment of Malaysia. This paper presents the differences in scenic beauty preferences between local and foreign tourists visiting the Cameron Highlands, using a questionnaire survey (n = 439). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of three scenic beauty parameters (natural, land uses, and management activities) on the scenic beauty preferences of both groups. An exploratory field observation was used to determine the relevant management variables that were probably associated with the highland management practices. The Independent Sample t–Test was used to compare the differences in their preferences. The hypotheses stated that foreign tourists were more likely to agree on the effects of management practices on the scenic beauty preferences than were the local tourists. While those hypotheses were not fully supported in this study, results did indicate that there are significant differences in two scenic beauty parameters: natural beauty and management activities. Interestingly, foreign tourists stated higher agreement on the effects of the natural beauty and management activities parameters than did the local tourists. These facts suggest that the foreign tourists were more sensitive to the effects of the current landscape management practices than were the local tourists. Secondly, the results also suggest that the foreign tourists appreciated the natural beauty of the Cameron Highlands more than the local tourists did. Importantly, the findings have implications to the District Council and Land Office of Cameron Highlands, since the agencies can use the information to decide on suitable management practices that benefit the tourism industry here. Good management decisions can help protect and sustain one of the most precious natural resources of the country from becoming exploited and exhausted. Center for Promoting Ideas (CPI), USA 2011-04 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/1/Scenic_beauty_preferences_of_Cameron_Highlands_Malaysia-_local_versus_foreign_tourists.pdf Othman, Jamilah (2011) Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2 (6). pp. 248-253. ISSN 2219-6021 (O), 2219-1933 (P) http://www.ijbssnet.com/archive/284.html
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution International Islamic University Malaysia
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
language English
topic GE Environmental Sciences
GV Recreation Leisure
spellingShingle GE Environmental Sciences
GV Recreation Leisure
Othman, Jamilah
Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists
description Scenic beauty is an important component of the tourism industry in the highland environment of Malaysia. This paper presents the differences in scenic beauty preferences between local and foreign tourists visiting the Cameron Highlands, using a questionnaire survey (n = 439). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of three scenic beauty parameters (natural, land uses, and management activities) on the scenic beauty preferences of both groups. An exploratory field observation was used to determine the relevant management variables that were probably associated with the highland management practices. The Independent Sample t–Test was used to compare the differences in their preferences. The hypotheses stated that foreign tourists were more likely to agree on the effects of management practices on the scenic beauty preferences than were the local tourists. While those hypotheses were not fully supported in this study, results did indicate that there are significant differences in two scenic beauty parameters: natural beauty and management activities. Interestingly, foreign tourists stated higher agreement on the effects of the natural beauty and management activities parameters than did the local tourists. These facts suggest that the foreign tourists were more sensitive to the effects of the current landscape management practices than were the local tourists. Secondly, the results also suggest that the foreign tourists appreciated the natural beauty of the Cameron Highlands more than the local tourists did. Importantly, the findings have implications to the District Council and Land Office of Cameron Highlands, since the agencies can use the information to decide on suitable management practices that benefit the tourism industry here. Good management decisions can help protect and sustain one of the most precious natural resources of the country from becoming exploited and exhausted.
format Article
author Othman, Jamilah
author_facet Othman, Jamilah
author_sort Othman, Jamilah
title Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists
title_short Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists
title_full Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists
title_fullStr Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists
title_full_unstemmed Scenic beauty preferences of Cameron Highlands Malaysia: local versus foreign tourists
title_sort scenic beauty preferences of cameron highlands malaysia: local versus foreign tourists
publisher Center for Promoting Ideas (CPI), USA
publishDate 2011
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/3863/1/Scenic_beauty_preferences_of_Cameron_Highlands_Malaysia-_local_versus_foreign_tourists.pdf
first_indexed 2023-09-18T20:11:50Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T20:11:50Z
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