TOURISM PLANNING RESEARCH
GROUP (TPRG)
Background
In 1997, the Tourism Planning Research Group (TPRG) was established to provide postgraduate
education and carry out applied research / consultancy in tourism planning and management. The
M.Sc. (Tourism Planning) programme being offered by UTM is the first postgraduate tourism
planning programme in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, TPRG has successfully carried out more
than 70 applied research and consultancy jobs for the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, Tourism
Malaysia, APEC, UNESCO, state governments, NGOs and the private sector.
Selected Research / Consultancy:
Year 2000 - present
1) Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pelancongan Lembah Puteri Ledang commissioned by Kementerian Kesenian,
Kebudayaan dan Pelancongan/ UPEN Johor/ UPEN Melaka, 2000.
2) Cultural Tourism Action Plan for Jalan Harmoni, Melaka, commissioned by Melaka Museums Corporation
2000.
3) Conservation and Development of Perlis State Park Study, commissioned by WWF Malaysia/Jabatan
Perhutanan Perlis/DANCED 2001.
4) Pelan Pengurusan Pelancongan Jangka Panjang Kepulauan Mersing, commissioned by Perbadanan Taman
Negara (Johor), 2001.
5) Pelan Tindakan Kawasan Pemuliharaan dan Pemugaran Majlis Perbandaran Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah,
commissioned by Majlis Perbandaran Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah, 2001.
6) Kajian Pelan Induk Pelancongan Daerah Taiping, commissioned by Majlis Perbandaran Taiping and Taiping
Tourist Association, 2002.
7) Pelan Pengurusan Rezab Hutan Tanjung Tuan, Melaka, commissioned by Jabatan PERHILITAN, 2003.
8) Study on the Development and Improvement of Tourist Guides’ Training in the Malaysian Tourism Industry,
commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism Malaysia, 2004.
9) Study on the Role and Effectiveness of Tourism in Reducing Urban Poverty: Case Study of Melaka Historical
City, commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2005.
10) Study on the Demand, Expectations and Satisfaction Levels of Japanese Youths at Homestays in Malaysia,
commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2005.
11) Design of Cultural and Nature-Based Tourism Corridors for the District of Bukit Gantang, Perak,
commissioned by Majlis Tindakan Pelancongan Negeri Perak/Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2005 – 2006.
12) Economic Master Plan for the South Johhor Economic Region (Tourism Sector) commissioned by
Khazanah Nasional Bhd, 2006.
13) Terengganu Coastal and Islands Study (TCIS), commissioned by the Terengganu Development Institute/
Terengganu State Government, 2006.
14) The Role of Urban Tourism As a Catalyst for Urban Regeneration in Melaka Historic City, IRPA Research
Grant from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), 2006.
15) East-Coast Economic Region Master Plan, (Tourism Sector) commissioned by ECERDC, 2007.
16) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Perak, commissioned by
the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2007.
17) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Negeri Sembilan,
commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2007.
18) Study on the Effectiveness and Impacts of Visit Malaysia Year 2007 Events, commissioned by Tourism
Malaysia, 2008.
19) Study on the Potential and Contribution of Backpacker Tourism to the Malaysian Tourism Industry,
commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
20) Design of Cultural and Nature-Based Tourism Corridors: Pilot Project at Kelantan Darul Naim, Fundamental
Research Grant Scheme from the Ministry of Higher Education, 2008.
21) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Kelantan, in collaboration
with Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA), commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
22) Kajian Penyelarasan Pembangunan di Kawasan Tanah Tinggi Bukit Fraser, Pahang, commissioned by
Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia, 2008.
23) Kajian Pelan Pembangunan Mengikut Zon Di Sepanjang Laluan Jalan Simpang Pulai – Gua Musang – Kuala
Berang, Tasik Kenyir, Negeri Terengganu Darul Iman commissioned by KETENGAH, 2008.
24) Cross-Border Tourism and Community Perceptions in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in collaboration
with University of Kent, commissioned by British Academy (ASEAN Research grant, 2008).
Objectives
The objectives of the establishment of TPRG
are as follows:
To conduct postgraduate education in
tourism planning
To foster collaborative research in
tourism planning with related tourism
agencies, tourism academic institutions
and the tourism industry
To offer consultancy services to the
government and tourism industry
To update and disseminate knowledge
on current tourism trends and best
practice in tourism planning and
management
Services Offered
TPRG conducts research and provides
consultancy services in areas such as
ecotourism, rural tourism, cultural heritage
tourism, coastal tourism, community based
tourism, etc. We have the capacity to carry
out specific tasks such as:
Tourism Master Plans;
Tourism Action Plans;
Tourism Resource Evaluation;
Tourism Demand Analysis;
Tourism Impact Studies; and
Other related tourism studies.
25) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Melaka, commissioned by
the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
26) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Terengganu, in
collaboration with Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA), commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia,
2008.
27) Gua Musang Agropolitan Masterplan, Kelantan, commissioned by ECERDC, 2008.
28) Setiu Agropolitan Masterplan, Terengganu commissioned by ECERDC, 2008.
29) Kajian Pergerakan Pelancong (Tourist Flows) di Negeri Johor, commissioned by UPEN Johor, 2008.
30) Kajian Pembangunan Produk Pelancongan Desa Wilayah KEJORA, commissioned by KEJORA, 2008.
31) Study to Measure Tourist Flows to States in Malaysia: Penang, commissioned by Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
32) Study to Measure Tourist Flows to States in Malaysia: Terengganu, commissioned by Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
33) Business Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Proposed Homestay and Kampung Stay Tourism
Development, commissioned by (ECERDC), 2008.
34) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Johor, commissioned by
the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
35) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Sabah, in collaboration
with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
36) Study on Auditing and Improvement of Tourism Products and Package Tours in Sarawak, in collaboration
with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, 2008.
37) Capacity Building on Community Based Tourism As a Vehicle for Poverty Reduction and Dispersing
Economic Benefits at the Local Level in Developing Member Economies, commissioned by the Ministry of
Tourism and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),2008.
Enquiries
For further information please contact:
Prof. Amran Hamzah, Advisor
Prof. Zainab Khalifah, Head
Tourism Planning Research Group (TPRG)
Faculty of Built Environment
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
81310 Skudai
Johor, MALAYSIA
Tel
Fax
E-mail
Website
(+60)7 - 5530658 (direct line)
(+60)7 - 5566155
tprg_fab@yahoo.com
merang@utm.my
www.fab.utm.my
38) The Developmental Impacts of International Dive Tourism in Malaysia: Sustainable Growth or Drowning In
Development? In collaboration with University of Kent, commissioned by the British Council (PMI2
Programme), 2008.
39) Study to Develop Iskandar Malaysia Tourism Cluster Development Strategy commissioned by
Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), 2009.
40) Kajian Penempatan Gugusan Pulau di Pesisiran Pantai Negeri Johor, commissioned by Jabatan
Perancangan Bandar dan Desa (JPBD) Negeri Johor, 2009.
41) Business Strategy and Implementation Plan on the Proposed Pekan Heritage Tourism Development,
Pekan, Pahang commissioned by East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), 2009.
42) Integrated Development Plan for Kampung Penarik Mainland Coastal Tourism Development and Setiu
Wetland State Park, Merang Setiu Terengganu commissioned by East Coast Economic Region
Development Council (ECERDC), 2009..
43) Kajian Pembangunan dan Pengurusan Produk – Aktiviti Homestay commissioned by Perbadanan Taman
Negara Johor (PTNJ) and IRDA, 2010.
44) Kajian Cadangan Mewujudkan Zon Bebas Cukai di Tasik Kenyir commissioned by KETENGAH and UPEN
Terengganu, 2010.
45) Kajian Pembangunan Komuniti Pelancongan Kepulauan Mersing, Johor commisioned by Jabatan
Perancangan Bandar dan Desa (JPBD) Negeri Johor, 2010.
46) Kajian Pelan Pengurusan dan Pelaksanaan Pembangunan Pelancongan di Gugusan Kepulauan Mersing
for Radiant Starfish Dev.Sdn.Bhd, 2010.
47) Kajian Cadangan Pembangunan dan Pengurusan Hutan Lipur Gunung Belumut commisioned by Alam Bayu
Sdn.Bhd, 2010.