Pembangunan pelancongan lestari di Melaka: Perspektif pelancong (Sustainable tourism development in Malacca: Tourists perspective)

Abstract

Pelancongan merupakan aktiviti penting dalam sektor perkhidmatan. Sumbangannya kepada pendapatan negara kian meningkat. Oleh itu aktiviti ini perlu diteguhkan dengan menerapkan prinsip pembangunan lestari. Objektif artikel ini adalah untuk menganalisis pelancongan lestari di negeri Melaka dari perspektif pelancong. UNESCO telah mengiktiraf negeri Melaka sebagai tapak warisan dunia. Kajian ini memilih negeri tersebut sebagai kes dengan tumpuan kepada pusat pelancongan di sekitar Alor Gajah, Bandar Melaka dan Ayer Keroh. Menggunakan kaedah pemerhatian kajian ini merekod tingkah laku pelancong serta seni bina dan infrastruktur di tapak pelancongan. Kaji selidik ke atas 140 responden turut digunakan untuk mengumpul maklumat berkaitan. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan kebanyakan pelancong memilih Melaka sebagai destinasi percutian keluarga. Ini kerana terdapat banyak khazanah warisan nasional dan pelbagai tapak sejarah di negeri tersebut. Bangunan warisan seperti A-Famosa, Stadhuys dan rumah-rumah kedai tradisional dalam bandar masih terpelihara dengan mengekalkan nilai estetikanya. Begitu juga budaya masyarakat Kampung Morten seperti tarian dan muzik tradisionalnya serta keseniaan puppet show dan batik yang turut menarik pelancong. Pelancong berpendapat bahawa penduduk tempatan terutamanya peniaga, pengusaha homestay atau pemandu pelancong, berbudi bahasa dan peramah dan sangat dihargai pelancong. Namun kebanyakan pelancong berpendapat, selain bangunan dan warisan budaya lain yang terjaga dengan baik, kemudahan infrastruktur dan tahap kebersihan bandar masih memerlukan pembaikan untuk mencapai tahap pelancongan lestari yang lebih baik.

Katakunci: budaya tradisional, nilai estatika, pelancongan lestari, perspektif pelancong, tapak warisan dunia, warisan nasional

Sustainable tourism as an important component of service sector in Malaysia has increasingly generated much of the country's revenue. Therefore, this activity needs to be strengthened by incorporating the principles of sustainable development. The objective of this article is to analyse sustainable tourism in Malacca from tourists’ perspective. UNESCO has recognised the state of Malacca as a world heritage site. The present study chose the state as a case with special reference to tourism sites located in and around Alor Gajah, Malacca City and Ayer Keroh. Using observation method, this study recorded tourists’ behaviour, as well as the cultural and architectural elements that present in the communities and the state of infrastructural provision of these tourism sites. In addition, a questionnaire survey was also carried out over 140 respondents among tourists on the sites to collect information regarding their perception on sustainable tourism. Result of the study showed that most of the tourists chose Malacca as their destination for a family vacation. This was mainly due to the presence of many national heritages and well known historical sites in the state. Heritage buildings such as the A-Famosa, Stadhuys and the towns’ traditional shophouses were well maintained. Their aesthetic values were also still intact. So did the cultural tradition of Kampung Morten such as their folk dances, batiks, musics and puppet shows which still attract tourists. To the tourists, particularly those directly involved in tourism activities as traders, homestay operators and tourist guides, were very kind and friendly. However, most tourists were of the opinion that, apart from well maintained traditional buildings and other cultural heritages, the state of infrastructural provision and urban cleanliness still need much improvement to attain a high level of sustainable tourism.

Keywords: aesthetical value, national heritages, sustainable tourism, tourists perspective, traditional culture, world heritage site