Sustaining Local Community Economy Through Tourism: Melaka UNESCO World Heritage City

Tourism significantly boosts the local economy of Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage City, with 34.3% of tourist expenditures directly benefiting local communities. The study reveals that while tourists spend 64.7% on transportation and only 1.4% on shopping, their average actual expenditure (RM172) is lower than budgeted (RM306), positioning Melaka as an affordable destination. This research highlights tourism's positive impact on the economic well-being of local populations, contributing to Malaysia's GDP through employment in sectors like accommodation, food and beverages, entertainment, shopping, and transportation. The findings were derived from a diary record survey involving 1,000 respondents across hotels with varying star ratings.

Amir, S., Osman, M. M., Bachok, S., & Ibrahim, M. (2015). Sustaining Local Community Economy Through Tourism: Melaka UNESCO World Heritage City. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 28, 443–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.054