commodification Stage of George Town Historic Waterfront: an assessment

George Town, Malaysia is at the 'pre-advanced commodification' stage, a newly proposed phase distinct from traditional models. This stage reflects its evolving tourism landscape, where historic waterfront buildings are being repurposed—such as into cafes and boutique hotels—to meet growing tourist demands while retaining some original character. The study, using a qualitative approach with data on tourist arrivals, investment trends, and resident attitudes, reveals that George Town's commercial transformation is more nuanced than advanced commodification models suggest. This finding highlights the need for tailored frameworks to assess heritage destinations in Malaysia, balancing preservation with economic adaptation.

Salim, N., Mohamed, B., & Marzuki, A. (2020). commodification Stage of George Town Historic Waterfront: an assessment. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 19(1), 38–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766825.2020.1849243