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Showing posts with label Economic Development and Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economic Development and Planning. Show all posts

Friday, July 22, 2011

Project Management and Annual Development Program-Problems and Prospect: A case Study of Bangladesh

Introduction

A timely and regular project is important in order to achieve the admirable outcomes –economic growth and development of the country. Most of the organizations rely on their projects to support their own growth in business performance and investment. The developmental projects of the organization do not only reflect on the ability of the people to manage the changes and support the ongoing process.

Background and Problem Statement

The process of planning, organizing, controlling, and measuring enclosed in management are essential parts in order to facilitate the success of the project. Every organization has their own version of desirable projects in which all the activities are linked, carried out in an organized manner, with a clear start and end point. This is important in the project to achieve some specific results desired to satisfy the needs of the entire organization according to the current time. The continuous development of the organization with an aim to support the national economic growth is a good indication that the influence of globalization never ceases. However, is it true that the regular and timely project management in country, such as Bangladesh, is important to reduce the poverty and achieve the millennium development goals?

Research Aim and Objectives

The main aim of the study is to identify the factors that lead to the economic growth and development of Bangladesh through the use of the project management among the organizations. In order to achieve this aim, the study prepared the three objectives. First is to identify the phases that involved in the project management of an organization. Second is to recognize the essential activities that should include in the project management. And third is to determine the tasks that can support the continuous accomplishment of the project.

Literature Review

Good governance is not an abstract idea and this very same idea should be employed in all over the country to fight the poverty and promote the economic growth. If the results are opposite on what is anticipated then, Bangladesh is going to struggle to reach the MDGs or Millennium Development Goals. It is proposed that the involvement of the local government in monitoring the public services should be emphasized in order to improve quality and outcomes. Therefore, strengthening the business sector is also accountable as part of the sustainable solutions. The reason behind this is the link of the government and businesses in communities. The role they play in changing the lives of the people is vital which can definitely affect the total growth and development of Bangladesh. The rapid reaction of the country in MDG can be mirrored through their ability to focus on the existing and pre-existing problems and preparing the early approaches to eliminate the negative impacts toward the country. It is also important that the accurate and timely management of project in the organizations are aid to represent the development phases of the country. MDGs can be only a dream if the organization failed to focus on the ways to secure the accountability in their projects and partnerships with the community and government (Wallich, 2006). After China and India, Bangladesh has the third largest number of poor and because of this sad truth, MDG progress is being monitored. The MDGs are the global common goals to be achieved by all the development partners and offer themselves as the nucleus around which development efforts can be elaborated at the country level. The organizations can reduce the signs of poverty through the proper investment and managing their projects while attempting to compete in the international market (GB & UN, 2005). The unique process of the organization in utilizing the appropriate resource for the proposed projects is the most basic way to reduce the poverty and promote the development in the country (Pradhan, 2010).

Methodology

The suggested method in the study is the use of secondary information that is focused in the project management. The available resources that can be used in the study are the company or organizational profile that facilitates the project management and draw the success in development. The organizations that can be featured should be operating in Bangladesh; this is for the reason to discover the significant economic growth in the national level. In addition, the resource or materials coming from the World Bank or ADB and other economic organizations that magnify the economic growth in Bangladesh can be also referenced as part of gathering the information.

References:

GB & UN, (2005) Millennium Development Goals Bangladesh Progress Report, Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Country Team in Bangladesh, [Online] Available at: http://www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/MDG_Reports_BangladeshMDG.pdf [Accessed 22 July 2010].

Pradhan, K.B., (2010) Project Management [Online] Available at: http://www.pitt.edu/~super7/16011-17001/16111.ppt [Accessed 22 July 2010].

Wallich, C., (2006) Towards a Strategy for Achieving MDG Outcomes in Bangladesh MDG Workshop [Online] Available at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/BANGLADESHEXTN/Resources/ChristinesSpeechMDGworkshop.pdf [Accessed 22 July 2010].

Friday, July 8, 2011

The Importance of SMEs and its Impact on Performance of Economic Development: A Case of Sustainable Development in Developing Countries

Abstract

The economic developed is the result of the openness of the countries in the importance of SMEs and its contribution for the economy. Given the globalization issues, flexibility, speed and innovativeness of SME, the study can examine the development that had been nursed by developing countries.

Introduction

Small and medium business types are well-known for its strong roots and foundation. Through the experience and aid coming from the financial institutions, the small and medium enterprise can compete in both domestic and international market. Apparently, the impact of globalization and the influence of the economic trends can affect the business’s performance. Furthermore, the economic development is also associated in SME because of its recognizable contribution in the economy.

Problem Statements

In the study, the discussion of the SME’s performance and its contribution in the economic development is the main focus. The problems that part of the discussion are outlined as follows:

1. The importance and role of SME in economic development

2. The actions for the continuous sustainable development, particularly among the developing countries

3. The contribution of SMEs towards the sustainable economic development

Research Justification

The underlying principle in the study is prior to the various investigations of the past researchers regarding the impact or influence of SMEs in developing the market. Therefore, there is a growing interest in picturing the development of the national economy. This very same interest triggered on describing the possible ways that SMEs can contribute to ride along the flows of economic trends through the use of its performance. Since the developing countries became the center of the research topics, the study will also focus on how to support their journey towards the total development.

Research Objectives

The objectives of the study is divided into there interrelated cores. First is to describe the SME and the performance in the developing countries. Second is to recognize the position of SMEs in the market and even in the competition, and detailing the recent benefits that the SME can deliver for the developing countries. And third is to discover the other possible contribution of the government or financial institutions in strengthening the SME and its performance.

Specific Research Questions

In order to align the study in obtaining the necessary information, there are five questions that should be satisfied.

1. What is the behavior of SME in the market?

2. If the SME/s is entitled to operate abroad, what are the effective modes of entry?

3. What are recognizable challenges that holding the SME in reaching its greatest potential?

4. What are developmental approaches utilized by the SME that is appropriate in its performance?

5. What are the contributions that SME can gain in the association of the foreign investments?

Scope and Limitation

The study recognized its scope as well as the limitation. The scope of the study is to describe the SME environment and the market that the SMEs are moving. Also the policies and the theories that involved in the development are emphasized. As part of the limitation, the study may not describe the financial statuses of the SMEs although the strategies are unraveled.

Literature Review

SMEs development is not a new concept; the importance of the SME has been tested following the influence of the crisis. The promotion of the SME and the support towards it enhancement might be accountable on SME’s efficiency and performance. In Thailand, the study revealed that SME’s advantages may possess the desirable characteristics (including the labor, capital, allocation of resources and investment) which are appropriate in maintaining the rural development (Decker & Zhao, 2004). However, the low productivity in the industrial sector might affect the total growth of the economy. Even though the developing countries emphasized the importance of SME and its development, still there are no enough policies that can enforce unlike in large enterprises (Hayashi, 2003). Therefore, the recent researchers suggested that the government should emphasize the planning and planning formulation particularly in developing countries. This is possible through the investigation of the success path or factors that contributes in the success of the East Asian countries. Globalization played in generating the attention to the essential roles of SMEs; therefore, the developing countries can use the globalization as the new adopted concept of economic development (Huang, 2003).

Methodology

The suggested method in the study is the use of comparative case studies. It is a great opportunity for the study to utilize the sources to compare the behavior and modes of actions of SMEs in the developing countries. Since the developing countries are the most popular users of SMEs, there is a possibility for the study to describe the recent changes and aims of the developing countries. In fact, the researchers’ findings on the contribution of the SME are addressed in the analysis of the study. As an addition, through the investigation of the related literature, the study can draw the gaps in the development of the SME.

References:

Decker, R., & Zhao, X., (2004) SMEs’ Choice of Foreign Market Entry Mode: A Normative Approach, International Journal of Business and Economics, 3(3): 181-200.

Hayashi, M., (2003) Development of SMEs in the Indonesian Economy [Online] Available at: http://rspas.anu.edu.au/economics/publish/papers/wp2003/wp-econ-2003-01.pdf [Accessed 08 July 2010]

Huang, I., (2003) Importance of SMEs Development in Thailand, Forum of International Development Studies, 23:159 [Online] Available at: http://www.gsid.nagoya-u.ac.jp/bpub/research/public/forum/23/07.pdf [Accessed 08 July 2010].

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Planning

Planning is commonly known as the process of formulating in advance as organized behaviour action. While it is true that people do not always plan their actions, it is inherent for any organizations to plan. However, whether dealing with the context by which planning is occurring, whether on the individual or organizational level, the process takes shape according to the prevailing attitudes, beliefs and goals that are involved. Planning also bears different meaning to different social groups.

Planning, as discuss on this paper is an essential element in a successfully and orderly established locality. It has something to do with urban planning and the appropriate allocation of buildings and social services providers. Hence, it is the systematic procedure to make the future of cities, towns, and countryside. As the Office of Deputy Prime Minister’s Planning Overview (OPDM Website) noted, “good planning contributes to urban and rural regeneration, and helps to ensure that people have decent affordable homes in well-designed accessible environments whilst safeguarding our countryside.” Planning serves as a blueprint to organize every segment of a community being built. The main precedence of planning is the most efficient and effective benefits for the most number of people.

On the other hand, public involvement is an aspect studied by many researchers in their researches as an important aspect of planning. Public involvement is the mechanism that involves the public in the beginning stages of planning up to the completion of the process (Bovaird & Löffler, 2003). It is also regarded as a critical component in planning.

This paper aims to discuss the ways, the extent, and the significance of "the public" in their involvement in decisions on planning applications.

Ways of Public’s Involvement in Decision-making on Planning Applications

Engaging to public is a multifaceted task in democratic societies like UK. Participation involves different groups of stakeholders with varied circumstances and consideration. But then again, public involvement will still focus on the common good of the most number of people. Along with this different stakeholders present in the planning process, there are also some ways in which the public can include themselves in decision-making.

Bovaird and Löffler (2003) presented some forms of engagement that are used in public decision-making.

Communication and interaction – in every given plan, there are always efforts of communicating to people who are involved and affected. Honest and effective communication provides the public a means of access to information concerning the plan and themselves.

Consultation – is the mutual exchange of information from the government and the public. It provides every participant an avenue to exchange all concerns and questions with regards to every propositions, decisions, and actions.

Co-production – serves as an active partnership between the service provider and the public in implementing, developing and monitoring project standards.

With such ways utilized by the public, it is still necessary for every parties concerned to maintain an open line of communication and contact. The role of communication is definitive to the results of every plan regardless of some considerations at hand.

Extent of Public’s Involvement in Decision-making on Planning Applications

In planning, there are several features to be studied (Kellogg, 2002). The degree of public involvement depends on the projected effects of every plan to be implemented. Since, the public will be greatly affected by such plans, their common good is always vital. For instance, service users and other citizens are mainly involved and constitute a great part in decision-making when it comes to construction of a certain establishment or social service provider such as hospital, supermarkets, and academic institutions. There are some imperative aspects to be dealt with in planning such kind of constructions – among these are the environment, safety and public’s welfare (Kellogg, 2002). The role of every participant and agency involved in the decision-making and planning goes hand in hand with the concerns of the public. The planner’s area of responsibility focuses towards environmental hazards, health and safety of the public. In here, the problems should be fully identified. This asserts that planners are in effort to seek information about the hazards that may affect the health, safety and quality of life of people. Planners, their working personnel, the agencies they are connected with, and the public are experiencing several conflicts with the environment nowadays. However, providing help by assuring safety is the best way to do. By seeking information and identification of the problem spells exploitation of the preventive solutions. These strategies help to maintain effectiveness in finding solutions and at the same time becoming efficient in every area. In seeking information for planning, it means conducting a check-up and research on the possible health hazards within the area of responsibility and the incidences that involve health and safety. On the other hand, identifying problems in planning mean addressing the needs of the public. Creating a heightened awareness of the health and environmental hazards within the specific place involving planners is the centre responsibility for efficient and effective way of determining its preventive measures.

To meet the objectives and targets, the best technique is to involve the public on health, safety and environmental programs so that they have full awareness of their responsibilities not only towards their specific vicinities but also their own health and safety while contributing solutions to fight and reduce the hazards that surround them.

To monitor and control the achievement of objectives, processes measures in planning should be implemented. A consistent update of the status of the planning process through various public updates and advisories are effective in a sense that they will become more aware of the current development and improvement of the matters concerning everyone and the possible hazards and safety environmental measures. Another consideration would be the enforcement of strict laws that will define the limit of involvement and participation of the public in the official operation to foster the right and appropriate implementations of plans with respect to the common decision of the body – the individual, the group and the larger organization to which it affects.

Again, the extent of public involvement depends on the circumstances present in every specified action of planners. It is essential for every planner to take into considerations the safety of the public and the environment as well. But the members of the community should also take part in their role in mediating to issues of decision-making by using their specified rights and privileges granted by the state.

Significance of Public’s Involvement in Decision-making on Planning Applications

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) acknowledges the benefits of public involvement (OECD, 2001). It also believes that citizen’s engagement is ‘a core element of good governance’. The benefits of public involvement (OECD, 2001) are:

- It improves the quality of policy-making and allowing the government to tap wider sources of information, perspective, and potential solutions.

- It facilitates greater and faster interaction between the government and the people concerned.

- It increases accountability and transparency which also increases representativeness and public confidence.

The meaningful involvement of the public in planning initiatives is becoming an increasingly significant to strengthen the project outcome. Agencies and organizations all over the globe are acknowledging the efforts of constructive public involvement and participation.

The public’s involvement and accountability on the aspect of planning serve as a collaborative mechanism in building an equally comprehensive, consistent, and supportive society. It is also considered as a high and vital means of empowering communities and building better lives for the benefit of everybody.

Conclusion

The people serve as the main component of every given society. Any action taken towards them requires in-depth discussions and communication with the authorities. It is important for public to participate and let their voices be heard or recognized because it constitutes the basic right of a democratic state of governance. Public participation offers a wide array of potential benefits for every member of the country however; it also goes hand in hand with formidable challenges. Policy makers, politicians, planners, and the public should work together to achieve the goals of building a well-planned, successfully maintained, and fully develop community.

The planners, on the other hand, must take into consideration all the concerns of the public. The role of communication on matters of public concerns is highly needed. Researches, information drive, public forums, and transparency on public matters are expected to be known by the people not by them alone. Furthermore, the government is there to protect the interest of the public. Hence, every plans implemented is subject to their approval as well as to public forum and scrutiny especially when the public are the main characters concerned and affected. In such manner, the true essence of democracy lives.

References

Bovaird, T. & Löffler, E. eds. (2003) Public Management & Governance. New

York: Routledge. pp. 190 - 200.

Kellogg, W. (2002). Community Development and Environmental Quality: Benefits and Challenges Using a Service Learning Model for University Engagement. Journal of the Community Development Society, 33(2), pp. 72-80.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (OPDM) Website, Planning Overview

http://www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=1161236

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2001) Engaging

citizens in policy-making: information, consultation and public participation. PUMA Policy Briefing No. 10. Paris: OECD.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Tourism, Economic Development and Planning

Introduction

The latter half of the twentieth century has been marked with amazing changes in technology, transportation, and communication and, in varying degrees, a spread of geo-political stability that has accompanied economic affluence for many citizens in industrialized and developing countries throughout the world. These changes have triggered the development of a number of new industries and the substantial evolution of existing industries to address the needs of increasingly prosperous, educated, and sophisticated post-industrial societies. One of these industries, tourism, has quietly emerged to become an important force in many societies and economies in various parts of the world. Though not usually thought of as a single cohesive industry, the growth of tourism since World War II has nonetheless been dramatic. Higher discretionary incomes, smaller family size, changing demographics, lower transportation costs, improved public health standards, infrastructure development, and hospitable environments for tourists in many destinations have made tourism, especially long-distance tourism, an activity within the reach and desires of many members of many nations.

Furthermore, developments in marketing, management, vertical and horizontal integration, pricing, and tour packaging, as well as capital investments in physical facilities -- "bricks and mortar" -- and public infrastructure, have provided tourism with the necessary framework to allow the tremendous growth it has experienced over the past half century. Thus, tourism has indeed emerged as an "industry" which, according to the World Tourism Organization, in 1989 generated approximately 74 million jobs in its direct and service-related industries, such as airlines, hotels, travel services, and publications.

Destination: Hong Kong and Malaysia

Hong Kong’s identity as one of the most promising and vibrant tourist destination in the world is uncontested. It projects an aura of opulence, efficiency, and high-tech competence (Kwong & Miscevic, 2002). Because of its abundance in several attractions, tourists flock their way to experience Hong Kong’s magnificence and top offers. Among these offerings to the various visitors of the country are the rich assortment of food, entertainment, culture and lifestyle.

This year, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) works its way to promote HK as “Events Capital” in Asia. There are several ways and means being studied, designed and implemented to realize such vision. The primary responsibilities of HKTB are to market and promote HK as a destination worldwide, as well as to take initiatives to enhance the experiences of its visitors once they have arrived. Its mission, on the other hand, is to maximise the social and economic contribution that tourism makes to the community of Hong Kong, and to consolidate Hong Kong's position as a unique, world class and most desired destination (HKTB, 2006).

The existence of the developmental action plans, policies, and programs to promote Hong Kong as a top tourist destination is evident. As an example, the promotion of the 2006 Discover Hong Kong with the full support of the state and its stakeholders is highly applicable. The Hong Kong Tourism Board together with the Hong Kong government established innovative campaign and promotion to develop and promote the country. Historically, Hong Kong is a British colony. With this known fact, there is a wide assortment of information that documented the efforts of developing its tourism planning and economy.

Another example would be Malaysia. The tourism industry in South-East Asia specifically to Malaysia has been under the spotlight since the October 13 terrorist attack in Bali, with mixed messages about the safety of traveling to different nations depending on which government website is consulted (Smith, 2002). After the Bali bombing, Malaysia, a close neighbor of Indonesia, has been forced to revise expected tourism figures. Malaysian deputy minister of tourism Ng Yen Yen recently announced the forecast for tourist arrivals had been cut by 7.7 per cent as a direct result of the attack.

Malaysia is known for its oriental collection of culture, nature’s beauty, and heritage. Like other neighboring nations, Malaysia’s reputation as a safe tourist destination was somewhat marred in 2003 because of its association with SARS hit countries in the region. In a quick response, Malaysia has committed itself to aggressive promotion and the economic relief package for players in the travel industry, extended by the government. The promotional efforts as well as Malaysia’s increasingly strong reputation as a center for international events boost the slow economy and ensure that the balance of tourism payments remains positive.

According to the Euromonitor International (2004) Malaysia’s domestic tourism has been steadily increasing, rising 11% in 2002 to 22.2 million trips. Programmes such as Cuti Cuti Malaysia, aim to encourage domestic traveling, undoubtedly contributed to the increase. Per capita increased in 2002 and 2003, where it reached RM 377 in 2002. Moreover, travel retail revenues increased by 12.6% to RM 4,689 million, although value growth slowed down to increase by an estimated 3% in 2003.

The two aforementioned examples have many things in common. Among these are the following:

* They are both situated in the South East Asia regions – both oriental countries.

* Government participation is increasing.

* The viewed importance of tourism in the nation’s economy is mutual.

* Planning and development including campaigns and promotions are combined efforts of the government and the people.

* Continuous competitive advantage in terms of tourism is highly maintained.

Concepts and Theories of Tourism Development

International tourism remains a consistently productive industry in a volatile global economy. Tourism and travel make up one of the world’s largest industries. In 1999 the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) also reports that across the global economy, travel and tourism generates, directly and indirectly: 11% of GDP; 200 million jobs; 8% of total employment; and 5.5 million new jobs per year until 2010. World Tourism Organization (WTO) data for 1999 show that 663 million people spent at least one night in a foreign country, up 4.1 per cent over the previous year. Spending on international tourism reached US$453 billion — a growth rate of nearly 3 per cent over 1998 (WTO, 2002).

These results are in line with WTO's long-term growth forecast Tourism: 2020 Vision which predicts that the tourism sector will expand by an average of 4.1 per cent a year over the next two decades. Annual international arrivals are expected to surpass one billion by the year 2010 and reach 1.6 billion by the year 2020 (WTO, 2002). Reasons for this sustained growth include greater disposable income in tourism generating countries, and, especially in some of the emerging economies of Asia, more leisure time, earlier retirement, improvements in infrastructure and transport (particularly air transport), and changes in consumer spending preferences.

Tourism is an "invisible" industry, encompassing transportation, lodging, and entertainment (Harrill & Potts, 2003). Unfortunately, tourism is also invisible to many planners, so tourism development is often left to private developers and leisure service providers. Given tourism's substantial social, economic, and environmental impacts – positive and negative – planners can no longer afford to dismiss tourism as tangential to other planning functions.

The terms "postmodernism" and "post-modernity" are associated with diverse interrelated phenomena that developed after World War II in varied spheres of activity, such as art, architecture, science, politics, cinema, sports, and tourism. Inconsistent use of these terms is recognized even by scholars who promote the postmodern perspective. However, the term post-modernity as a particular set of generalized developments that may constitute a new cultural paradigm and social consciousness (e.g. Urry, 1990).

Among the various developments associated with the notion of postmodern tourism, one could point to the proliferation of simulated environments and "hyper real" experiences, the growing awareness of the natural, the rise of small and specialized travel agencies, and the growing attraction of nostalgia and heritage tourism. Nevertheless, a complete discussion of these varied developments in the field of tourism is beyond the scope of this paper.

Specific attention is paid in this study to the phenomenon of de-differentiation, which is recognized as one of the most fundamental features of the postmodern era (Urry, 1990). In this context, the modern period has been characterized by horizontal and vertical processes of differentiation between normative, aesthetic, and institutional spheres of social activity. Horizontally, these processes involve the development of distinct fields of activity, each with its own conventions and modes of evaluation. Vertically, these processes are responsible for traditional distinctions between "high" and "low" culture, or between the consumption of fine art and popular pleasure. The postmodern condition, by contrast, involves a breakdown in the distinctiveness of each of these spheres of social activity.

The notion of de-differentiation was applied in the tourism literature by scholars stressing the decreasing distinctiveness of tourism as a field of social activity (Urry, 1990). In this context, Urry suggested that tourism could once be characterized by three forms of exchange relationships: financial exchange for rights to occupy mobile property, financial exchange for temporary possession of accommodations and facilities away from home, and financial exchange for ability to gaze at unfamiliar sites. Currently, however, these forms of exchange are no longer confined to tourism practices and may occur in various contexts of everyday life, such as shopping, eating-out, sports, education, and so on. In the era of mass media and simulated environments, this trend is primarily evident with respect to the aspect of visual consumption.

A similar process of horizontal de-differentiation between tourism and the routine of everyday life is delineated by Munt (1994), who argues that "tourism is everything and everything is tourism" (p.104). In this context, he mentions the growing tendency to combine a variety of activities, such as adventure trekking, climbing, skiing, and mountain biking with tourism. More significantly, he stresses the penetration of the domain of tourism by intellectual activities, such as the proliferation of ecological, archeological, anthropological, and scientific types of tourism. In addition to the intellectualization of tourism, he points out a process of "professionalisation" in the consumption of tourism. In this context, Munt (1994) suggests that the separation of occupational professionalism and the consumption of leisure are beginning to blur.

Historical Evolution and Structure of Tourism Development in Hong Kong and Malaysia

Smith and Eadington (1992) stated that tourism can be studied: it has a history and a literature; it has internal structure with operating principles; it waxes and wanes and is highly sensitive to external influences including natural and cultural events; and it can be analyzed in terms of economic social transaction. Many countries and regions that have the necessary resources for tourism development have chosen the path of developing large scale tourism as a major national or regional activity. Tourism becomes a major employer, taxpayer, and physical and political presence in many jurisdictions. It has altered the major of social, political, and economic interaction that occurs in these places, agrarians were pushed out by industrialization.

Travel and tourism is a priority sector for assessment because of its broad economic, environmental and social implications throughout the world, and its place in World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. In industrialized country, tourism has been replaced by manufacturing, distribution, or extractive industry as the economic mainstay, in developing countries however, the shift is basically from an agrarian economic base to a tourist economic base, bypassing an industrial phase altogether. While it is said that tourism becomes an important pillar in many societies and economies in various parts of the world, it can never be denied that the development of tourism always has a detrimental effect on the people and the environment of a tourist destination (Smith & Eadington, 1992).

In Hong Kong, the historical brief of tourism development is limited. Because it was a British colony for several years, there other information and developments that are not credited to the present situation. However, in reference to the previous national history, it could be said that Hong Kong tourism is just fresh and pioneering. With the influence of free trade, globalization and advent of modern technological means, the nations become an instant role model in international tourism. The development of the tourism is still in the making. Thus, it is still on the process of development in cooperation of the government, tourism related individuals, and Hong Kong people.

On the other hand, Malaysia is a potential tourism spot. During the 1980s and 1990s, community-driven tourism became a major research theme, frequently under the guise of downtown redevelopment. In this era of strategic planning, tourism was seen by many planners as a replacement for "twilight" industries and a form of civic boosterism (Judd & Fainstein, 1999). Like all other nations, the country and its people gradually paved way to the development of tourism through planning. The wide collection of Malaysian historical account is discussed in their website.

Recently, the concept of sustainable development provided new momentum for tourism planning. For example, Hall (2000) and Inskeep (1991) identified sustainable development as a primary planning and development theme. In addition, Gunn's (1994) third edition of Tourism Planning included a chapter on sustainable development as a critical element of effective tourism planning. Recent contributions to tourism planning show a diversity of perspectives. For example, The Tourism City (Judd & Fainstein, 1999) is composed of case studies on urban tourism as an economic development strategy. Managing Tourism Growth: Issues and Applications (Bosselman et al., 1999) approaches tourism planning from a growth management perspective and presents case studies of historic districts in Santa Fe and New Orleans. Articles by Marcouiller (1997) and Ioannides (1995) address rural tourism planning in the United States and tourism planning in less developed countries, respectively. Marcouiller's (1995) extensive tourism planning bibliography remains a useful guide to seminal research in the field. Finally, the World Tourism Organization's (1994) National and Regional Tourism Planning offer tourism planning case studies from an international perspective.

Impact and Relationship of Government and Commercial Planning Initiatives

With the evolution of tourism industry, comes the commercialization of tourism (Urry, 1990). Evidence shows that over the last four decades, the dominant model of tourism production has been shifting from Fordist mass tourism to post-Fordism model of tourism production (Urry, 1990). Basically, Fordism is a stage in the development of 20th century capitalism. It is marked by intense relationships between governments, unions, and international capital (Urry, 1990). Moreover, Urry (1990), states that distinct divisions associated with the Fordist model are being broken down because the era of mass communication has transformed the taste of tourists. The mass consumption of a standardized product is a guide to new ways of competing and co-operating (Williams & Montanari, 1995). Increasingly, changing cultural values, business and national competition for tourism, and improvements in Information and Communication technology (ICT) are all facilitating greater emphasis on more individualistic or specialized forms of holidays (Williams & Montanari, 1995).

Tourism has continued to be an essential component of development planning in developing nations. In some instances tourism has been perceived as a redeemer to sluggish industries and conventional agriculture, generating new connections and demands. Specifically, the diverse subdivisions of the tourism industry, such as hospitality, catering, food and beverages, tours, recreational activities and the entertainment industry, transport, souvenir manufacturing and sale are accounted to unlock enormous outlooks for employment and profits to varied populations. Governments, connected business clusters and international financing organizations are inclined to look upon tourism as an uncontaminated industry. (Ghimire, 2001)

Developing nations believed they had a comparative advantage in comparison with their industrialized counterparts as they have incomparable tourist resources and appeals, like temperate and sunlit climate, gorgeous beaches, exceptional flora and fauna and tropical forests, and exotic or authentic civilization. Undeniably, in the 1950s and 1960s, newly-self-governing nations in Asia and Africa recurrently surmised tourism development to be a way of resource conveyance from the North to the South. (Ghimire, 2001) In isolation, developing nations wanted to endorse tourism by means of recognition and improvement of new locations, endorsement and advertising of expanded tourism merchandise, ratification of complimentary labor laws, granting of financially supported credits and tax immunities to foreign investors. Local and global tourism business organizations willingly joined forces with governments when they make out potentials for profit.

There are specific motives why governments all over the world sustain the development of tourism. Initially, the prospective for tourism to produce foreign currency is vital, even more so in countries which have artificial or controlled exchange rates, or which are, frequently accordingly, caused to undergo balance of payments difficulties. Second is the truth that tourism is labor exhaustive, and generates employment throughout the economy. Similarly, tourists pay out money on lodges, transportation, and meals, but also on an extensive assortment of goods and services. Third is the actuality that the tourism industry does not, in general, have need of costly or intricate technology or an extremely skilled labor force. With the exemption of a handful of multifaceted projects like airline operations, investment in tourism is not relatively costly, and will frequently give back a profit practically speedily. Furthermore, a lot of nations previously have prepared the basic and most imperative prerequisites for the improvement of the tourism segment; an agreeable climate, striking surroundings, historical locations, and welcoming population. In other words, governments frequently sense that their nation possesses an unexploited economic resource, and come to a decision to take advantage of it. (Gray, 1997)

More and more, in more than a few developing nations, national tourism has turned out to be more significant in the context of the overall amount of tourists and its contribution to national economy than international tourism (Ghimire 2001). Generally, it can be stated that national tourism is less responsive to international political unsteadiness and economic stagnation, less harmful to the nation's balance of payments and is supposed to generate considerable income and employment. But regardless of this potential, a handful of developing nations have a steady policy on national tourism. When a noteworthy amount of tourists start on to acquire holidays, they demand amenities and services. Governments have a propensity to deal with this development in an unplanned way, with tourism policies being created in a totally unintentional manner. Another feature of tourism is the speedy growth of regional tourism within developing nations, with specific up-and-coming prospects for economic growth in the South, but similarly a lot of imminent troubles akin to those connected with international tourism. This feature is up to now completely abandoned in tourism literature, but a small number of policy measures are being taken on at the ranks of regional institutions.

In fact, tourism seems to have become political in nature considering international organizations are formed in order to forge links that will intertwine their industries together. To illustrate, the issue of South-South partnership has been particularly restated throughout regional organizations such as Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). These organizations have intended to strengthen regional economic and political collaboration. In proportion to this underlying principle for regional support, tourism is frequently perceived as an outstanding means of invigorating and branching out the regional economic base, creating new employment and income potentials for communities and fortifying interpersonal contacts. And a handful of particular policy schemes have been in progress along these lines in different regions. (Ghimire, 2001, p. 99)

On another case, it is also utilized as a tool to resolve or even avert conflict. The term 'conflict' is bound with negative insinuations. It is repeatedly regarded as the converse of collaboration and peace, and is most frequently connected with hostility or the danger of violence. This perspective of conflict is not constantly supportive. In a lot of situations it is supposed to be perceived as a possible force for constructive social reform, its existence an observable manifestation of society becoming accustomed to a new political, economic or physical atmosphere (Warner and Jones, 1998). A possible peaceful method to resolve these conflicts at the least social, economic, and environmental costs may possibly be by means of developing alternative tourism policies.

In the middle of increasing anxiety and worries all over the place getting away from it all is reasonably popular. With so many fantastic locations in the world, costs of international tours declining, and the pressures and tensions of everyday life growing, more individuals are traveling. And as the populace increases and incomes mount in a lot of societies, the development is precipitously positive. On the economic side of it, tourism has been an advantage as it makes a vital contribution to economic growth of a certain nation. It could be that a certain country in which tourism development is very low would suffer from economic instability. Taking a deeper look of it, tourism, first and foremost provides employment; it gives additional livelihood; it affects the balance of payments. Subsequently, there would be economic boom. However, tourism would also need to use facilities such as roads, airports, railways which are government concerns. It uses resources of land and water which government must manage for the nation.

The scale and distribution of responsibilities in the development vary from several factors such as economic status, culture, and the current state of the country’s tourism as a whole. In Hong Kong and Malaysia, the governments with its stakeholders have a specific action and developmental plans for the tourism of both countries. However, the participation of the people and the hospitality industry is also recognized. Initially, development starts in the community in which the attractions are located. Then, the process goes on. With some limitations in geographic locations and time constraints, developmental scale and distribution is subject for legislation and policy decision-making.

Role of Civil Society in the Development and Planning Process

Most tourism planners consider maintaining and improving resident-tourist relations critical to the long-term viability of tourism destinations (Ap & Crompton, 1998). Resident attitudes toward tourism development range along a continuum from negative to positive. Milman and Pizam (1988) found that despite positive feelings toward tourists, residents often noted specific negative impacts. These impacts included increases in unsafe traffic conditions, crime, drug addiction, and alcoholism. Benefits perceived by residents included increased employment opportunities, income, tax revenues, and quality of life. Many tourism researchers have assumed that determining sources of negative impacts can result in policies that mitigate them and improve resident attitudes (e. g., Lankford, 1994). McCool and Martin (1994) hypothesized that residents with strong feelings of community attachment were more likely to have negative attitudes toward tourism development than less attached residents, but their results refuted this notion.

During the years of mass tourism after World War II, the tourism industry stressed tourism's positive economic benefits. By the 1970s, however, researchers such as Jordan (1980) began documenting negative social, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism. Over the last 20 years, a more balanced perspective has emerged, with researchers investigating both positive and negative impacts as reflected in resident attitudes (Ap & Crompton, 1998). Mental states or dispositions, attitudes are "reinforced by perceptions and beliefs of reality, but are closely related to deeply held values and even to personality-unlike opinions, they do not change quickly" (Getz, 1994, p. 247). Resident attitudes are now recognized by tourism researchers as related to both the processes and outcomes of tourism development (Lindberg & Johnson, 1997).

Although many research articles address attitudes toward tourism development, few researchers examine this issue with community attachment. Um and Crompton (1987) suggested measuring resident attachment levels in a host community as length of residence, birthplace, and ethnic heritage. McCool and Martin (1994) examined relationships between tourism attitudes, length of residence, level of tourism development, and feelings of community attachment. Williams et al. (1995) measured community attachment as length of residence, age, and income, and Jurowski (1998) asked respondents to rate their quality of life and satisfaction with the community as a place to live.

Um and Crompton (1987) found that resident perceptions of tourism impacts on environmental quality did not relate significantly to attachment levels. However, the authors did find that, except for the environmental dimension, the more attached residents were to a community in terms of length of residence, birthplace, and heritage, the less positively they perceived tourism development impacts in their community. Conversely, McCool and Martin (1994) reported that strongly attached residents rated the positive dimension of tourism higher than unattached residents, although they were more concerned about sharing the costs of tourism development. Similarly, Williams et al. (1995) found that residents with high levels of attachment, measured as regional identity, tended to be more supportive of tourism development than less attached residents. Jurowski (1998) reported that residents with stronger feelings for their community were more supportive of tourism development and more optimistic about the impacts of tourism on the quality of life in their community.

Contribution of Planning to Sustainable Tourism Development

Though tourism may perhaps bring about an assortment of potential advantages, unrestrained mass tourism, the most predominant structure of tourism nowadays, unavoidably boosts the previously existing conflicts, in addition to generating new ones. (Moli, 2003) Tourism's gluttonous craving for basic resources like land, water and energy, has preordained that the tourism industry and government agencies are progressively finding themselves more in opposition over land rights and water rights by local individuals. Inadequacy of access by local residents to public beaches, contravention by hotels of environmental directives, and rough policies by local authorities to open beach regions for hotels' employment have all been mentioned in legal disagreements all over the world. Therefore, the modern world is exemplified by mass concentrations of individuals, mass production, and mass actions. Assortment and magnificence of land and life are increasingly substituted by standardization and unattractiveness. Human settlements in their mad rush for growth have converted attractive tree-clad backgrounds into uninhabited concrete jungles, and rich lands with varied local foliage are ever more ruined by monocultures. (Moli, 2003).

Like most economic enterprise, planning plays a vital role. Through planning, there is a specified objective to be attained at a specified time. In Hong Kong and Malaysia, marketing strategies planning is very important. Most tourism planners consider maintaining and improving resident-tourist relations critical to the long-term viability of tourism destinations (Ap & Crompton, 1998). To fully achieve the goals of HKTB in promoting and marketing HK on its 2006 Discover Hong Kong Year, planning is the key for its success. The strict implementation of strategic plans and marketing strategies will procure positive result sustainable development of the whole country. Planning will serve as the blueprint of all the development intended by the state, people and tourism stakeholders.

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