DEVELOPING AN INTERPRETIVE PLAN FOR COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM AT GUGUSAN KEPULAUAN TUMPAT, KELANTAN, MALAYSIA

The Gugusan Kepulauan Tumpat in Kelantan, Malaysia has potential to be an area for Community-Based Tourism (CBT) due to its diverse resources, which includes the local culture, its natural environment as well as its traditional cuisine, and crafts. However, this area currently lacks an interpretation medium to promote and enhance visitor experiences. Interpretation helps translate complex technical or scientific information into more straightforward language and expressions of ideas that non-experts can readily understand. Therefore, this research paper aims to identify the existing CBT resources, to determine potential interpretation themes, and to develop an interpretive plan for Gugusan Kepulauan Tumpat, Kelantan. This research paper conducted structured observations using an inventory form for data collection. This has helped identify existing CBT resources which include cultural heritage and traditions, local community knowledge, and natural resources available to the communities in the area under review. Based on the CBT resources, interpretation themes and sub-themes identified, eight checkpoints were established with which to develop an interpretive plan for CBT in Gugusan Kepulauan Tumpat. The proposed interpretive development plan was formulated after considering the distinctiveness of the local community’s culture and natural surroundings. The plan aims to enhance visitors’ CBT experience and provide an overview that the local community and related agencies could use to make decisions when planning for tourism activities.