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Contribution of Traditional Shipbuilding to the Development of Culture
and Heritage Tourism at Kuala Terengganu
Nurul Saizatul Shazua Binti Mohd Yusuf
Wan Mariam Wan Abdullah
Bachelor of Management (Maritime)
School of Maritime Business and Management
Malaysia is one of the countries that make the tourism industry as a source of national
economy. The diversity is a major feature of Malaysian society in shaping its own
culture and heritage. Terengganu is one of the most famous lands of culture and
heritage which is based on various heritage derived from previous generations. The
well-known culture and heritage in the state of Terengganu includes historical places,
museum and traditional handcrafts. Traditional shipbuilding industry had once
contributed to the economic development of Terengganu. However, this industry has
declined rapidly due to certain factors such as high cost, lack of experienced workforce
and demand of modern shipbuilding. In some countries, traditional shipbuilding has
been turned into tourism product. As such, this research aims to study the existing
culture and heritage tourism at Kuala Terengganu and to examine the potential of
making traditional shipbuilding as one of the tourism products in the culture and
heritage tourism. This research uses qualitative methodology by using semi-structured
interview to relevant respondents who are involved directly with the culture and
heritage tourism at Kuala Terengganu. Documentary and descriptive analysis were
used to study the existing culture and heritage tourism at Kuala Terengganu. SWOT
analysis was used to examine the strength and opportunities of traditional shipbuilding
to contribute into culture and heritage tourism. This research finds out that culture
and heritage tourism in Terengganu are generally based on history, education and
experience. The finding also indicates that traditional shipbuilding has the same
characters that can be exploited to contribute into culture and heritage tourism.
1650 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018