A Study of Cultural Identity, Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development in Mah Meri Community Cultural Village, Carey Island, Selangor, Malaysia
Firmansyah Shidiq Wardhana
Xiao Yuhan
Chen Qian
This research is considered as an exploration study to investigate the tourism
aspects which encompass cultural tangible and intangible heritage development of cultural
tourism in Mah Meri Community to support sustainable tourism practice in Malaysian
tourism context. Our focus is on the identity of Mah Meri Community, cultural heritage,
cultural products of local community of Orang Asli called Mah Meri located in Carey
Island, Selangor, Malaysia. The general objective of this research is to explore the factors
of cultural features and cultural resources of Mah Meri Community in a form of cultural
intangible and tangible products to support cultural tourism in this site. This study will be
based on non-contrived setting (field study) with minimal interference by researchers as it
is conducted by observing the real field of local community of Mah Meri in Carey Island.
The researchers will use qualitative method by conducting in depth interview to understand
holistically about the cultural identity, attributes and resources which are possessed by this
community in a form of cultural tourism product such as wood carvings, performing arts,
mask and local festivities celebrations. Unfortunately, the local community feels that their
identity is one of potential tourism attraction which gradually facing great threat because of
the scarcity of natural resources and lack of governmental attention [Puvaneswaran
Kunasekaran, Sarjit S. Gill, 2013]. It is expected the findings of this study will contribute to
the significance of Malaysian government to improve Mah Meri local community as one of
the preserved cultural based tourism destination and also contribute to the horizons of
cultural knowledge in existing literature specifically in cultural tourism ground.