3) Social Tourism in Kedah

Kedah is a haven for sports enthusiasts or those seeking recreational holidays.

Over the years Kedah has been gearing itself for all types of outdoor sports and recreational with a focus on water based activities. Wind surfing, canoeing, swimming, board sailing, pleasure cruises, rock climbing, jungle trekking are some of the activities which are popular among tourists. There are also jet-skiing, scuba diving and snorkeling. The sea and the inland lakes are idle venues for such activities.

Whether you opt for golfing or scuba diving, wind surf with the trade winds, test your endurance and stamina on a grueling mountain trek or idle on golden sandy beach beneath a gently swaying Palm tree there are plenty more activities to experience while in Kedah. The tropically landscaped golf courses of Kedah offer unique golfing experience. Golfers will definitely be rewarded with great round of golf at various championship held throughout the year.

Or just wait for the end of the year when the biannually held Langkawi international Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition or known as LIMA, is held in the tourism island of Langkawi. This is the regions showcase of the latest in aerospace, naval and air defence and civil aviation.

Impact:

According to UNESCAP (2005), tourism creates opportunities for small entrepreneurs because start-up costs for and barriers to entry in this sector are relatively low and can even be accessible to the poor.

1.  The improvement of public transportation may not be because of tourism development but it may be due to the demand from the local people themselves to the authorities.
2. Tourism’s role in development has evolved significantly, providing not just foreign exchange, economic growth and employment, but also opportunity for host community participation in biodiversity conservation, urban growth, infrastructure overhaul and planning, rural development, environmental restoration, coastal protection and cultural heritage preservation tourism’s role in development has evolved significantly, providing not just foreign exchange, economic growth and employment, but also opportunity for host community participation in biodiversity conservation, urban growth, infrastructure overhaul and planning, rural development, environmental restoration, coastal protection and cultural heritage preservation
3. Tourism is an important catalyst for entrepreneurial development and small business performance. This would also support the government’s efforts in promoting tourism, in general, and island tourism in particular.
4. Due to low start-up costs and low barriers to entry, tourism creates business opportunities for small entrepreneurs in various tourism-related business activities, including in local agricultural, manufacturing, services and construction-related businesses. The most notable one is business opportunities in tourism-related services, such as accommodations, food outlets, tourist agents or guides, retails, and sport facilities, since local and foreign tourists need various services along their stays on the islands.

Conclusion and Future Recommendation

·     The combination of other tourism impact items in those factors eventually represents new dimensions for tourism development.

·    Encourage more awareness and understanding among the community towards impacts of tourism development.