Emerging Built Heritage Commodification of Boutique Hotels in World Heritage Site: Evidence from George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Boutique hotels in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, exemplify the commodification of built heritage, leveraging the city's global recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its historic charm. This study reveals that external factors such as international acclaim and the city's setting drive investors to repurpose historic premises into boutique accommodations, blending tangible heritage with contemporary uses. Through semi-structured interviews with hotel managers and entrepreneurs, the research identifies key drivers behind this trend, contributing empirical data on the process of built heritage commodification in heritage cities.

Rahman, S. (2018). EMERGING BUILT HERITAGE COMMODIFICATION OF BOUTIQUE HOTELS IN WORLD HERITAGE SITE: EVIDENCE FROM GEORGE TOWN, PENANG, MALAYSIA. Planning Malaysia Journal, 16(8). https://doi.org/10.21837/pmjournal.v16.i8.542