A fuzzy multi-criteria framework for the development of sustainable community-based tourism in Malaysia

Abstract

Community-based tourism (CBT) is a growing niche market that has positively impacted many developing countries including Malaysia. CBT in Malaysia is recognised as the Malaysian Homestay Experience Programme (MHEP) which is under the coordination of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Previous studies have looked into stakeholders’ contributions and the roles they play in the MHEP. However, the sustainability criteria from the multi-stakeholder perspective should be understood. The collaboration between tourism stakeholders is pivotal in understanding their perspective by considering their diverse viewpoints on critical issues and bridging the current knowledge gap. This research aims to investigate how stakeholders could participate more efficiently in developing and employing a sustainable MHEP. This study applied a mixed-method approach and was divided into two phases. The first phase was the multistage qualitative research and the second phase involved a questionnaire survey with structured questions distributed to the multi-stakeholders. Academicians, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, businesses, host communities, homestay coordinators and tourists were involved in the data collection process. The study applied a two-stage methodology by integrating two multicriteria decision-making techniques, Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory and analytic network process to extend the existing evaluation criteria and weightage. The multi-criteria framework will provide stakeholders as decision-makers the ability to devise plans that are sustainable and compatible with conservation and rural development strategies. This study is decisive in helping stakeholders develop sustainable CBT and contribute to government policies, specifically in terms of MHEP development and management aligned with the Malaysia rural development policy. Sustainable CBT can be an efficient rural economic development tool to generate broader economic distribution and create a more comprehensive spatial development. Furthermore, this study also provides valuable insights for tourism policymakers in terms of efficient policy interventions related to CBT in accelerating sustainable development involving environmental, economic and socio-cultural growth.