Assessing the Impact of Proposed Tourism Apps on The Development and Economic of SME Asnaf Businesses in Perlis: A Qualitative Analysis Based on Tourist Perceptions
Abstract
The integration of tourism apps and the empowerment of asnaf entrepreneurs represent pivotal strategies in fostering sustainable economic development in Malaysia. Perlis has become one of the most visited states because of their natural beauty and unique attractions. By the year Visit Perlis 2024-2025, the state of Perlis has started the application of digital business, which is “Perlis Go Digital”. This initiative has been done in order to encourage the asnaf entrepreneurs to change towards digitalization. One qualitative study has been conducted to explore the intersection of the proposed tourism apps and tourist perspectives to understand their collective impact on the sustainable economy of SME and asnaf development. The researchers collected data through interviews and analyzed it using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis is a widely used qualitative research method for identifying, analyzing, and reporting themes within interview data. This method is used to investigate how tourism apps shape tourist experiences. Findings indicate that tourism apps enhance the visibility and accessibility of SME asnaf businesses, and facilitate market expansion. However, the study reveals that while tourism apps provide convenience and personalized recommendations, issues like data accuracy can affect user satisfaction. By integrating the perspectives of tourists, this study contributes to the development of inclusive digital ecosystems that promote equitable economic growth of SME asnaf businesses and enhance the overall tourism experience.
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