This study evaluates Tioman Island's sustainability achievement using the Sustainable Ecotourism Indicator System (SEIS). Sustainability is achieved if each stakeholder makes a positive contribution to others in social, environmental, and economic dimensions. The overall sustainability score allows objective comparisons across destinations, which may provoke positive reactions from stakeholders to play their parts. Three questionnaire versions were designed in which each stakeholder group (39 government officers, 104 local communities, and 105 tourists) rated their perceptions of sustainable relationships with two other stakeholder groups, resulting in six sustainable relationship aspects. The results indicate that Tioman Island is classified as ''potentially sustainable'' (58.89%).

The authors employ the stakeholder theory in examining the perceptions of four stakeholder groups (tourists, local residents, government agencies, and business operators) on the environmental problems faced on the island and to identify the parties jointly responsible for solving these problems. A total of 15 problems were identified from 46 exploratory interviews conducted prior to the questionnaire survey. A questionnaire was constructed based on the interview data, and 320 questionnaires were collected from the four stakeholder groups. The results provide support that different stakeholder groups identify different problems and they perceived responsibility for solving these problems. The findings also indicated that problems related to limited road access, neglect of local community, limited phone and internet access, and dirty beaches needed immediate attention.

No abstract

The Maldives has long been perceived as an exclusive and expensive travel destination. However, the political changes have introduced another accommodation option, the guest house. This has provided an opportunity for many locally owned guest house owners to offer accommodation service at an affordable rate. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of business and the challenges faced by the guest house business in the Maldives. The data were derived from in-depth interviews with nine key informants. The thematic analysis qualitative method was employed in identifying informants’ view of the current guest house business. A total of six themes (i.e. product image, service quality, marketing channel, infrastructure, competition, policies, laws and regulations) were identified. The contribution of the paper lies in growing knowledge within the research niche of guest houses in the Maldives and internationally. Implications of the factors that contribute to successful guest house operations, including customer-oriented and service quality are recommended based on the findings. These recommendations can benefit guest house managers in developing and managing their guest house business. Future research may be expanded to view differences in perception among different stakeholders. Such findings could provide insights into what is missing and what topics require further investigation in the future.

No abstract