Perception of Tourists Towards Challenges Heritage Building Conservation

Abstract

Building conservation is the key challenges to the heritage building. The main attractive element for tourist to visit heritage building is condition of building. This paper attempt to identifying the challenges in heritage building conservation. Quantitative method was used in this study which involved tourist as respondents. This study was conducted in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia. Total numbers of returned questionnaires are 127. Descriptive analysis was used in this study to know the level of challenges in heritage building conservation. The results found that there are four challenges aspects; consist of building aspect, technicality aspect, social aspect and environment aspect. The first ranked of challenges in heritage building conservation scope is social aspect. Based on tourist perception, they believed social aspect become the main challenge in building conservation. Followed by building aspect, environment aspect and technical aspect. In social aspect, the results show that low involvement of young people with the heritage and conservation activity, public participation are still low with the heritage, program and lack of public awareness on heritage building conservation. These challenges resolve by increase the awareness and involvement the public people. Further research need to emphasis on how to increase public awareness in heritage building conservation.