vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
1
2
TITLE
PAGE
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of Study
1
1.2
Problem Statement
2
1.3
Research Questions
4
1.4
Research Goal and Objectives
4
1.5
Scopes of Research
5
1.5.1 Literature review
5
1.5.2 Evaluation of tourist’s place experience
5
through place-character and place-experience
1.5.3 Evaluation of tourist’s profile and trip
5
characteristics to Kuala Lumpur
6
1.5.4 Recommendation of strategies to refine
tourist’s place experience through placemaking
1.6
Study Approach
6
1.6.1 Stage 1 – Preliminary Stage
6
1.6.2 Stage 2 – Data Collection
6
1.6.3 Stage 3 – Analysis and Synthesis
7
1.6.4 Stage 4 - Recommendations
7
1.7
Techniques of Analysis
9
1.7.1 Research Method
9
1.7.2 Survey Instrument
10
1.7.3 Population and Sampling
11
1.8
Study Area
14
1.9
Significance of the Study
17
1.10
Limitation of the Study
17
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
Introduction
2.2
Place
2.2.1 Concepts of Place
2.2.2 The Essence of Place
2.2.3 Identity and Images of Place
2.2.4 Sense of Place
2.3
Place Experience
2.3.1 Types of Place Experience
2.3.2 Describing Places
18
18
18
19
21
23
25
26
26
27
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2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
3
4
2.3.3 Place and Tourism
2.3.4 High Quality Place Experience
Placemaking
2.4.1 Criteria for Making Better Settings
Tourist Experience
2.5.1 Concepts of Tourist Experience
2.5.2 Process of Tourist Experience
2.5.3 Tourist Experience in Urban Area
Model of Attitude Measurement
The Study’s Working Model
27
28
28
29
30
30
32
34
35
35
37
KUALA LUMPUR CITY CENTRE AS A PLACE FOR
TOURIST DESTINATION
3.1
Introduction
3.2
KL as a Place
3.2.1 The City of KL
3.2.2 Image and Identity
3.2.3 Spatial Characters
3.2.4 Place Experience in KL
3.3
Tourism Products in KL
3.4
Positioning
3.5
Middle East Tourist Arrival
37
37
37
38
39
40
44
47
47
DATA ANALYSIS
4.1
Introduction
4.2
Place Experience Analysis
4.2.1 Analysis of Place Characters Using MAM
4.2.2 Gap Analysis
4.2.3 Analysis of Overall Tourist Experience
4.3
Analysis of Tourist Route
4.3.1 Tourist Attractions
4.3.2 Shopping Places
4.3.3 Entertainment Area
4.4
Analysis of Tourist Demand
4.4.1 Profile of Tourists
4.4.1.1 Country of Origin
4.4.1.2 Demographics
4.4.2 Trip Characteristics
4.42.1 Purpose of Visit
49
49
50
55
57
59
61
62
64
66
69
69
69
70
72
72
ix
4.5
5
4.4.2.2
4.4.2.3
4.4.2.4
4.4.2.5
4.4.2.6
Conclusion
Party Composition
Length of Stay
Mode of Transport
Accommodation
Prior Experience in Kuala Lumpur
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
5.1
Introduction
5.2
Discussion of Results
5.2.1 Tourist’s Place Experience
5.2.2 The Middle East Tourist Place Experience
5.2.2.1 Importance of Place Characters
5.2.2.2 Experience of Place Characters
5.2.2.3 Overall Tourist Experience
5.2.2.4 Attitude Measurement
5.2.3 Tourist Route
5.2.4 Tourist Demand
5.3
Refining Tourist’s Place Experience Through
Placemaking
5.3.1 Choices and Options
5.3.2 Reinforcing Patterns and Sequence
5.3.3 Rich Materials for Fantasies and Memories
5.3.4 A Sense of Identity
5.3.5 Highlighting Personal Awareness
5.3.6 Highlighting Opportunity
5.3.7 Active Vitality
5.4
Recommendations for Future Research
5.5
Conclusion
73
74
75
76
77
78
82
82
82
82
84
84
85
88
88
88
89
90
92
93
94
95
97
97
98
98
100
REFERENCES
101
APPENDICES A – B
105
x
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE NO.
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
5.1
TITLE
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Region
Concepts of Place
Concepts of Tourist Experience
Factors to consider in evaluating the urban
tourist experience
Tourism Products in KL
Middle East Tourist Arrival in Malaysia
(Jan – May / 2005 & 2006)
Middle East Tourist Arrival in Malaysia
(By Months)
Importance of Place Characters to the Middle
East Tourists
Experience of Place Characters in KL by the
Middle East Tourists
Place Characters Mean Scores
Differences of Mean Scores (Values)
Gap Values in Ascending Orders
Overall Tourist Experience Evaluation
Accommodation
Importance-Experience Gaps for the Middle
East Tourists
Summary of Significant Findings
Placemaking as a Process to Enhance Place
Characters
PAGE
12
19
30
34
46
48
48
52
52
55
58
58
60
76
80
81
91
xi
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE NO.
TITLE
1.1
Study Flow Chart
1.2
The Middle East Region
1.3
Kuala Lumpur Map – Distribution of Tourism
Products
2.1
Place Formation
2.2
Place Diagram
2.3
Sense of Place Diagram
2.4
Tourist Experience
2.5
The Tourist’s Place Experience Process
2.6
The Four Cells of the Fishbein’s
Measurement of Attitude
2.7
Placemaking and Tourist’s Place Experience
3.1
The Golden Triangle
3.2
Distribution of Tourism Products
3.3
Tourism Zones
3.4
Middle East Tourist Arrival 2005 and 2006
4.1
Comparison between perceived importance
and actual place experience by the Middle
East tourists in KL
4.2
Tourists Who Rank “Memories” as a Very
Important Character
4.3
Purpose of Visit for Tourists Aged 20-29
4.4
Model of Attitude Measurement on the
Middle East Tourists’ Place Experience
4.5
Differences of Mean Scores
4.6
Overall Tourist Experience Evaluation
4.7
Tourist Attractions Visited in Kuala Lumpur
4.8
Shopping Places Visited in Kuala Lumpur
4.9
Entertainment Area Visited in Kuala Lumpur
4.10
Tourist Route
4.11
Country of Origin
4.12
Tourist Gender
4.13
Age Group
4.14
Highest Education Background
4.15
Occupation
PAGE
8
12
14
20
21
25
31
33
35
36
40
44
45
48
53
54
54
56
57
60
62
64
66
67
69
70
70
71
71
xii
4.16
4.17
4.18
4.19
4.20
Main Purpose of Visiting Kuala Lumpur
Party Composition
Length of Stay
Mode of Transport
Previous Experience in Kuala Lumpur
72
73
74
75
77
xiii
LIST OF APPENDICES
APPENDIX
A
B
TITLE
Tourist Questionnaire
Getting Around in KL Pamphlet
PAGE
105
107