The Local Small Business Community Development and their Perception of Island Tourism in Penang, Malaysia

This paper presents the perception of local small-business community of Island Tourism in Penang, Malaysia. A study was conducted at Batu Ferringhi Beach, a popular destination in Penang, Malaysia for both local and foreign tourists wanting to experience the sun, sea, sand and water sports along the coast line of Batu Ferringhi. The Naturalistic Method of inquiry was used for qualitative data collection. This method is used to help the researchers understand the host-tourism relationship before conducting further investigation. There are some issues highlighted by the local business community that need to be addressed by the authorities. Investigation conducted at the Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang revealed that the local business community received very little support from the local tourism development authorities. It is hoped that the findings of this study will contribute to the existing literature in the field of island tourism development that could contribute to the sustainability of the local small business community at the beach area.