NEEDS ANALYSIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGITAL TOURISM MODEL USING AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) FOR MUSLIM TOURISTS IN SELANGOR

Muslim tourists from the Middle East increasingly select Selangor as a preferred travel destination. However, the absence of digital tourism applications that utilise Augmented Reality (AR) technology in Arabic and reflect Islamic values hampers a meaningful tourism experience. This study aims to identify the needs, limitations, and expectations of Arabic-speaking Muslim tourists in relation to the development of an AR-based Islamic digital tourism application in Selangor. A quantitative survey was conducted involving 100 Muslim tourists. The findings reveal that the majority of respondents support the development of an interactive, user-friendly application that incorporates Islamic content, offline functionality, and Arabic language support. Key features emphasised include prayer times, Qibla direction, places of worship, GPS integration, and Islamic heritage visualisation. The study recommends the development of a responsive and inclusive AR-based tourism application that aligns with the values and expectations of Muslim travellers. Such an application holds potential not only to enhance Islamic tourism in Selangor but also to contribute to contemporary da’wah and regional economic development.