MAXWELL HILL: A EUROPEAN-STYLE HILL STATION TOURISM DESTINATION IN BRITISH MALAYA

The narrative regarding Maxwell Hill during the era of colonialism highlights the popular tourist destinations among the European community who lived temporarily in Malaya from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Advantages in terms of cool climate, scenic beauty, and availability of complete facilities and infrastructure have been the source of attraction in Maxwell Hill and indirectly contributed to the increase in the number of tourists from Europe. This article will explore the history of Maxwell Hill as a tourist destination and focus on the factors that make it so attractive to the European society of that era. This method uses historical qualitative methods to analyse primary sources such as records, government documents, and newspapers. Secondary sources are also used as support sources, namely the use of internet access methods to obtain resources in the form of e-books, and journal articles; quantitative methods are also used to analyse the data. This paper uses a descriptive analysis approach to describe the role of Maxwell Hill as a tourist destination for the European community from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. The results of this study found several other features such as natural attractions, European-style accommodation, the aesthetic value of the rose garden and stunning panoramic views, infrastructure facilities, which attracted visitors to Maxwell Hill before the Second World War, as well as the ease of interaction and culture. These were additional factors, apart from the accommodation facilities which were over-highlighted in previous studies. Overall, Maxwell Hill, until the mid-20th century, was indeed one of the hill stations with high popularity due to its unique features. The implications of this study may encourage management to re-evaluate the unique features available at this hill station to ensure sustainable development and preserve the inherited historical value.