Community leader in enhancing rural economic growth in state of Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

Community-based tourism products have the potential to be featured as a new product to attract foreign tourists in knowing the benefits of community-based products in rural areas. Community-based tourism is seen as a sustainable tourism that can help rural community members improve their standard of living without damaging the environment. Terengganu is one of the most famous landmarks of nature tourism, culture and history. The purpose of study to exploring how local leader enhance their community economic growth. The data of study was captured using interview among 26 rural entrepreneurs who are operating their business in the selected 4 villages. The study has successfully analyzed the contribution played by the local leader leaders as a rural community leader in helping to highlight the potential of community-based tourism products, and indirectly encourages business and economic growth of rural people in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. Therefore, federal and state government can take this finding as guidance as well as to construct the rural entrepreneurship in implementing the rural entrepreneurship development.