The nexus of community perception on turning idyllic Panchor town into a future river tourism destination

Abstract

Panchor town on the Muar River would be ideal for river tourism due to its scenic beauty and peaceful atmosphere. In proposing the town as a future river tourism destination, this paper examines the relationship between residents’ perceptions of river-based tourism development and their attachment to the place, their intrinsic motivation and their knowledge of tourism. This study focuses on Panchor residents’ perceptions via a survey at a pre-tourism development stage. The data were then analyzed using SmartPLS 4. The findings indicate three factors were positively related and significantly influenced the residents’ perception of river-based tourism development with a high R-square value, indicating a more reliable and trustworthy result. The relevant authorities should consider getting the community aware of the potential benefits and sustainability of a tourism development plan through careful planning and evaluating the community’s needs and resources.

Keywords:

• community support
• pre-tourism development
• river-based tourism
• sustainability

1. Introduction

Tourism is about the physical space, with or without administrative boundaries, in which they can spend the night and experience the products, services, and activities along the tourism value chain (Turisme, 2019). Turisme (2019), is classified tourism according to operational definitions, including cultural tourism, business tourism, mountain tourism, and river tourism. Examples of well-known ecotourism destination visuals that improve the travel reasons for ecotourism demand include mountains, cultures, and rivers (Chi & Pham, 2022). Chi and Pham (2022), highlight the ecotourism as part of tourism development in people’s land after considering the perceptions, acceptance and attitudes of the local community. It is important to understand the relationship between these elements with tourism development in ecotourism destinations. To fully comprehend, additional research on the specific property is necessary, and Panchor, Johor, is the ideal site for this examination.

Rural development and tourism are essential for reviving local economy and protecting cultural treasures. Panchor, a tiny town in Johor, Malaysia, has the potential to develop into a river-based tourism attraction because to its beautiful Muar River. However, in order to avoid negative effects and encourage sustainable expansion, it is crucial to consider the viewpoints of the locals and assure their active participation in tourist development.

Studies have revealed that the effectiveness of tourist development programmes depends much on the attitudes and acceptance of the local population. The local community’s support and collaboration are crucial to ecotourism, which encourages natural preservation and cultural immersion (Chi & Pham, 2022). Thus, it is essential to comprehend inhabitants’ perspectives and worries in order to develop and conduct projects effectively.

As shown in Figure 1, Panchor is situated in the state of Johor, Malaysia. In recent years, Johor’s tourism sector had been experiencing a phenomenal increase in tourist arrivals from 2.6 million in 2016 to 7.4 million in 2018 (Shah, 2018). When Johor had the third-highest number of international tourist arrivals in 2016, the Malaysian Tourism Council commended it with an award in 2017 for having the best domestic tourism promotion. Two years later, Johor was listed as Malaysia’s top domestic tourism destination. Among the popular districts visited by these tourists were Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Pontian and Muar. Since then, Muar, formerly known as Bandar Maharani, started focusing on receiving domestic and international tourists to boost its tourism industry (Hamdi et al., 2019).

Figure 1. Panchor location and site plan.

Source: Haziq Danial Hazizi (2020)

Apart from beautifying the city, there are presently 20 government designed tour packages that cater to all of the tourists’ demands and preferences, which offer future visitors of Muar an array of places to experience (Hassan, 2019). Despite showing positive developments, a number of issues were brought up by members of the local community. Their greatest concern is the opposing view that foreign visitors, especially Singaporeans, have of Johor’s “pass-by state” image (Benjamin, 2018). Although the number of tourists from Singapore who visited Johor was increasing, the majority just “dropped by” the state and usually continued with their journey to Melaka and Genting Highlands. In order to ensure that such tourists would want to stay longer in Muar, the local authorities have stepped up their efforts to organize exhibitions, campaigns, familiarization trips and sporting events, and even tried to produce creative and attractive tourism products specially for the tourists (Benjamin, 2018).

Panchor, once a bustling city with active exchange along the Muar River, has skilled a decline in significance due to adjustments in transportation routes. nowadays, the metropolis in most cases is predicated on agriculture for financial activities, which has didn’t entice its more youthful population. However, the status quo of a schooling Hub in nearby Pagoh has supplied possibilities for small organizations, inclusive of eateries and homestays, catering to college students and traffic (Majid, 2018).

To absolutely make use of the capability of the Muar River as a supply of earnings and activity, Khoo et al. (2022) endorse website online-primarily based development tasks that apprehend the distinctiveness of the river and its surroundings. but, it is far crucial to consider the citizens’ perspectives and ensure that tourism improvement advantages them immediately. Wang and Pfister (2008) and Harun et al. (2018) caution that tourism improvement may have both positive and negative affect on neighborhood communities. Therefore, regarding the citizens in choice-making processes and addressing their issues are essential for the long-time period sustainability of tourism in Panchor.

In end, rural tourism and improvement may be a catalyst for financial growth and cultural maintenance in rural areas like Panchor. however, it’s far important to prioritize the involvement and well-being of the local community. By using thinking about their perceptions, addressing their issues, and related to them in choice-making procedures, sustainable tourism development may be accomplished, reaping rewards many parties: tourism authorities, excursion operators, nearby communities and vacationers. This have a look at is crucial for local support and engagement: The belief and guide of the area people are essential for the achievement of any tourism improvement project. By involving the network within the selection-making procedure and addressing their issues, it’s far viable to garner their support and engagement. fine network notion can create a experience of possession and satisfaction among the locals, main to active participation in selling Panchor as a river tourism vacation spot. It also crucial for sustainable improvement: The perception of the community concerning sustainable development practices is critical for the long-term viability of Panchor as a tourism destination. The neighborhood residents are the custodians of the metropolis’s herbal assets, and their notion of environmental conservation, responsible tourism, and sustainable practices is vital in protecting the river surroundings and keeping the city’s beauty. By way of incorporating the community’s perspectives on sustainability, Panchor can broaden as a version for sustainable river tourism.

As for this current study, the local community support for the proposed water-based tourism development plan of Panchor will be measured at the plan’s initial stage. Panchor is an idyllic town in the district of Muar, through which Muar River flows the beautiful Muar River. The 288 km Muar River which runs through the states of Pahang and Negeri Sembilan, used to play a significant socio-economic role for traders in the past as they could travel the river and stay overnight in Panchor before heading towards their destinations (Samah et al., 2011; Thong & Sheng, 2013). Being a potentially great tourist attraction for eco-tourism and outdoor recreation today, an investigation was conducted to discover the Panchor community’s perceptions towards the idea of turning the town into a water-based tourism destination.

This research carried out in Malaysia have highlighted the importance of knowledge the local people’s perception of tourism development. Factors together with perceived economic benefits, environmental safety, and the price of residing can influence their reputation of tourism sports (Hanafiah et al., 2013; Latip et al., 2018; Noor et al., 2022). consequently, it’s miles critical to assess the citizens’ support for Panchor turning into a river-based totally visitor vacation spot.

This study aims to examine the relationship between the residents’ notion of river-based tourism development, their attachment to the area, their intrinsic motivation, and their expertise of tourism through understanding the residents’ perspectives, their stage of aid, and their worries, effective techniques and tasks may be evolved to make sure that tourism development in Panchor aligns with the community’s aspirations and desires.

2. Literature review

2.1. Underlying theory

This study attempts to relate the social behavior of Panchor’s residents to the Social Exchange Theory (SET) introduced by Homans (1961). According to Emerson (1976), SET proposes that people will be more motivated to achieve something or to get something done if they realize that they will be rewarded for it or that there are benefits that they can gain from it. Based on SET philosophy, local communities living near the river may also decide on their interactions with tourists due to perceived costs (e.g., noise pollution, increased traffic or environmental issues due to tourism activities) and benefits (e.g., economic growth, employment opportunities, exposure to diverse cultures). Though SET is an old theory, current researchers, such as Kim et al. (2022), Ogbonna and Mbah (2022) and Woosnam et al. (2022), are among the studies that are using SET to explain the relationship between perceived cost and benefit.

2.2. River-based tourism and local resident support

River-based tourism’s originality and attractiveness determine a destination and value diversity in natural resources, culture, and man-made structures that attract visitors (Abbas et al., 2022; Erislan, 2018; Folgado-Fernandez et al., 2019). River-based tourism of natural water resources is considered unique, with plenty of tangible and intangible value that offers various opportunities for recreational and tourist activities (Folgado-Fernandez et al., 2019). Therefore, rivers could be classified as a natural tourism resource with a natural charm and a spectacular setting that draws visitors’ attention.

Despite being considered a significant tourism resource, river-based tourism needs to be addressed in the global tourism industry. However, according to the World Tourism Organization (2016), there have been initiatives among some tour operators in realizing the potential of using these rivers for river-based activities, such as water skiing, jet boating, personal watercraft riding, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking, swimming, diving, and parasailing. River-based activities are now taken as a specific form of tourism. In Spain, for example, a study on water tourism has proven that tourists are delighted with river-based activities as it allows them to connect with the environment and improve their quality of life, particularly regarding their socio-economic benefits. Folgado-Fernandez et al. (2019) recommended that improving the facilities and structure of river-based events would increase tourist satisfaction. The above study concluded that river-based tourism could attract more visitors if the place is well-managed and equipped with all the necessary facilities. In the Malaysian context, the potential of river-based tourism has been discussed at similar rural tourism sites as crucial tourism products (Hashim et al., 2021; Janin et al., 2020; Nasarudin & Bahar, 2013). Like a current study, Khoo et al. (2022) also investigated the Muar River. However, the scholars focused on enhancing future planning and development, which would be site-based, thus giving due recognition to the river.

Past literature highlights the importance of evaluating local resident support for tourism development by studying the community members’ perception of their place being turned into a tourist attraction. Community support is significant for tourism growth that will help generate employment and income necessary for improving the quality of life of these communities (Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Ireland), 2019). United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) definition illustrates the importance of local resident support of any tourism development; “…tourism that takes complete account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

In alignment with UNWTO’s definition, numerous research studies like Rasoolimanesh and Seyfi (2020) and Gu et al. (2021) investigated the effects of resident perceptions and attitudes regarding their support for tourist development, contentment, involvement, as well as the residents’ quality of life. Gu et al. (2021) argued that local resident support would have a better impact if local resident members organised and managed the tourism services. The support would encourage more cultural activities and events, increase recreational parks and green places and provide additional leisure activities. Gu et al. (2021) concluded that river-based tourism activities would be more exciting when the locals deliver these services themselves.

The following studies show that local resident support is measured by determining their attitude towards tourism development based on SET (Ward & Berno, 2011). Yu et al. (2018) stated that this could be done at the onset or as a tourism development project. As for this current study, the local resident support for the proposed river-based tourism development plan of Panchor will be measured at the plan’s initial stage.

The involvement of the local residents is said to positively impact tourism development and the community’s quality of life. Still the opposite effect was, however, seen with the tourism project of Whampoa Ancient Village of China. Residents complained that they had to compete for business due to the scarcity of these products. At the same time, they had to pay taxes and face many other problems. These problems could have been solved if the management of the village project had taken into account the opinions of the local entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, this study did reveal that increasing resident support for tourism development could effectively resolve conflicts within the tourism community (Wang et al., 2021). Local wisdom who supported further development of tourism sites has added value and proven eco-tourism further development in Sumatera (Purwoko et al., 2022).

2.3. Perception of tourism development

Studies have shown that positive and negative perceptions of the community’s readiness towards tourism development are essential (Karunathilaka & Gnanapala, 2016; Noor et al., 2022; Saad et al., 2020). Local community readiness is part of tourism resources identified as contributing factors to tourism development in Malaysia (Sakolnakorn, 2020). According to Sakolnakorn (2020), the resources consist of skilled workers, green and clean cities, natural resources, and various cultural and social resources.

In a study on the impact of social media on the population’s perception of tourism development, Rasoolimanesh and Seyfi (2020) found a positive result. The study shows that social media has positively shaped the residents’ perception and attitude toward tourism development. The researcher concluded that resident perception is a significant attribute to the success and failure of any tourism development of a destination. A similar view is shared by Gu et al. (2021), who argued that resident perception influences a tourist’s experience and satisfaction with a trip, the success of travel programming and policies, and the overall sustainability of a tourist destination.

Cottrell and Vaske (2006) argued that the local resident’s perception is the most accurate since the place is close to their heart. Several studies have been made, and all seemed to lead to the conclusion that the local resident perceived such a move positively, particularly when they recognized what they can gain out of the tourism activities in their place (Hanafiah et al., 2013) or when they see tourism activities taking place in their area (Liu & Li, 2018). Promoting a positive resident perception is necessary to reassure their support for tourism development. Panchor town residents’ perception matters because any conflicts with the river tourism idea in a small rural community such as Panchor can create phenomena-motivated antisocial behaviours and vice versa (Ham & Woolcock, 2022).

Since the end of 1990s, tourism research has increasingly advocated perception studies of river-based tourism development (Bord et al., 1998). In their recent tourism development study, Torres-Bagur et al. (2019) investigated stakeholders’ perception of the design of effective mitigation and adaptation strategy for the Muga River basin in Girona, Spain. Another research study in Spain by Ricart et al. (2019) analyzed the local resident’s perception of the historical waterways to understand related problems in waterscape and when promoting canals as a natural and cultural heritage mass-tourism destination. In Abu Dhabi, Hammad et al. (2017) obtained the residents’ insights into tourism through their perception of the impact of tourism. The residents’ perception was also tapped to indicate their support for tourism development. Another study by Latip et al. (2018) examined the perceptions of a group of indigenous Sukau villagers of Sabah towards tourism development in the catchment area of Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah. Knowing how the villagers perceive the proposed tourism activities in their area is crucial as it demonstrates their level of willingness to continue living in a changing or changed environment and determines the feasibility of the river-based tourism development itself. These perceptions are important, considering that tourism development largely depends on the stakeholders identifying and assessing risks, mitigation, adaptation strategies, and the effects these have on all tourism-related establishments.

Perception is a process of physical sensation consisting of sights, sounds, and smells selected, organized, and interpreted to give meaning to the given environment (Karunathilaka & Gnanapala, 2016). Where residents have little tourism experience, it is vital to study their attitudes and perceptions towards a proposed tourism development plan, especially emerging destinations (Lepp, 2008). To Wang et al. (2021), tourism decision-makers could interpret local needs concerning tourism development through their perception. They also said that the influence of residents’ perceptions might resolve conflicts among officers in the government, residents, tourists, and tourism operators when their interests and goals are incompatible. Positive perceptions, in particular, play an essential role in gathering residents’ interest and support of tourism development. Therefore, the perception of locals in the Panchor will be investigated if the residents showed a positive inclination towards river-based tourism.

2.4. Community attachment

Sustainability of communities through tourism-based activities can be fostered through community engagement efforts like outreach, education, communication and attachment that dealing with sense of pride and ownership to invest in their own residential area (Reindrawati, 2022). Community attachment is conceptualized as the feelings, emotions, and sense of belonging that the community has towards the town (Rasoolimanesh et al., 2017). Its quality boosts tourism and national development (Giampiccoli, 2018) and can be measured in several ways, such as how long community members have lived there or whether they were born or brought up in the community (Brida et al., 2011). A positive perception of the image of any tourism development helps promote repeat visitations that seem to affect the attachment that both visitors and residents have towards a place (Manyiwa et al., 2018; Tournois & Rollero, 2020). Therefore, the strong attachment of locals to a project tends to positively impact tourist destinations (Yuksel et al., 2012), while residents’ intention to stay and attach to their environment is also assumed to influence their perception.

The literature on the relationship between resident’s attachment and residents’ perception has so far shown a mixed result. Stockton (2011), for example, examined the attitudes of Morro Bay residents towards tourism as a predictor variable. Stockton (2011) revised the instrument McCool and Martin (1994) used and found that the attachment was not related to the residents’ attitude towards tourists. Similar findings were made by Rasoolimanesh et al. (2017). Contrary to the positive impact of community attachment, the researchers found that the effect of community attachment on the Georgetown residents’ perception and support towards World Heritage Site conservation and tourism development was insignificant though positively related.

The effect of resident attachment on perceived socio-cultural benefits was also analyzed by Meimand et al. (2017). Their findings indicated that residents who had a strong attachment were more sensitive to tourism impacts, thus affecting their support for tourism development. A similar result was made by Morales et al. (2018), who found that local residents support for sustainable tourism development was dependent on the level of attachment the residents had towards their community. According to Shirleyana and Sunindijo (2020), aspects such as government support, economic stability, environmental protection, and security of locality help improve community attachment to a place. Thus, this study speculates a direct positive relationship between community attachment and the residents’ perception of tourism.

H1:

Local residents’ attachment influences the perceptions of river-based tourism development.

2.5. Intrinsic motivation

Intrinsic motivation is widely used in various fields, such as psychology, education, sports and physical activity, entrepreneurship, and environmental conservation (Howard et al., 2020; Manninen & Campbell, 2022; Solórzano-García et al., 2022). Scholars debate that intrinsic motivation promotes positive outcomes that encourage an individual’s well-being, happiness, and flourishing while engaging with the community (Patall et al., 2008; Zheng et al., 2023). It is the drive to solve a problem, probably because it is interesting, involving, personally challenging, and satisfying (Saeed et al., 2019). The concept of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators is important in determining the productivity of individual employees and the entire team. These motivators also effectively implement specific projects or an organization (Gribanova & Kliestik, 2021). When defining and determining the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators of 1500 employees, Gribanova and Kliestik (2021) found these two values connected to responsibility, trust, respect, and self-actualization. These four factors are considered as determinants of the level of job satisfaction which have a great influence on job effectiveness.

Besides that, Saeed et al. (2019) also found that intrinsic motivation mediates transformational leadership in the employee innovative work behavior of 347 software engineers. When individuals are intrinsically involved in their work, they are more likely to devote their attention to the problems that they encounter. Such attention directs people to engage in a creative process through self-regulation. Herlambang’s (2021) study found that intrinsic motivation is psychological, where refers to the sense of intrinsic desire and mental exhaustion that comes from developing skills in optimally strenuous activities. In contrast, autonomy refers to the sense that the movement is authentic rather than inwardly frightened or externally forced. The study’s key finding is that intrinsic motivation can assist individuals in sustaining performance even when they are tired (Herlambang, 2021).

Intrinsic motivation refers to the drive to do something for an internal reward. Such motivation facilitates a consumer’s perceived trust. One interesting study on this is by Kim et al. (2020), who investigated factors that influence tourism crowd-funding among Koreans who were 18 and older. In this instance, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation was found to affect trust. A similar finding was also made by Kuhn et al. (2019), who conducted a study on tourist golfers in Bali. They found that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation affected their trust in golf operators.

Allan (2011) investigated the relationship between participants’ motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) in visiting geo-tourism sites and their intention to repeat these visits. The study revealed that intrinsic motivation has a positive relationship with a tourist’s intention to revisit a destination. Lee et al. (2014) measured both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations influencing support of a mega sports event named Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea. The study concluded that volunteer motivation positively affects support for the mega-event, with satisfaction and attitude having a mediating effect. In Feng et al. (2016) study, consumers’ intrinsic motivation and attitude are positively associated with mobile advertising. Intrinsic motivations, tourism destinations and tourist behavior relationships in the context of Malaysia and other Asian countries are also discussed recently. For example, Septiari and Omar (2022) examined the travellers’ intrinsic motivation impact in Indonesia. Thomas and Wee (2022) and Md Rami et al. (2022) included Malaysian tourists’ intrinsic motivation in their studies. The presented literature leads to the second hypothesis of this study.

H2:

Local residents’ intrinsic motivation positively influences the perceptions of river-based tourism development.

2.6. Local knowledge of tourism

When local hosts thoroughly understand tourism, they will fully participate (Sihombing, 2017). Thus, host communities must not lack of knowledge of the importance of sustainable tourism (Reindrawati, 2022). A lack of understanding relating to the benefits of tourism development could lead to wrong expectations towards tourism development.

Knowledge of tourism is crucial in developing a sustainable tourism destination. A local authority in Ireland has developed efforts for the local communities to earn more tourism knowledge by understanding their critical role in tourism. The Irish local government launched the Local Authority Tourism Capability Program to increase knowledge among Irish residents to facilitate community activation and participation in community programs. This initiative demonstrates how vital local people’s education and awareness are for long-term sustainability (Department of Transport Ireland, 2020). Inadequate knowledge may impede tourism development (Hambira et al., 2020).

Knowledge of river-based tourism activities could be understood within the context of the hydro social cycle, a social-natural reciprocal relationship between water and the individual (Rhoden & Kaaristo, 2020). Local knowledge was assessed qualitatively in the three waterways of the Lower Ter region in Costa Brava, Spain. The results show that the residents were well versed in river-based tourism and had many ideas about related activities (Ricart et al., 2019). Similarly, a positive result was obtained by Javier (2016), who gathered residents’ perception of tourism based on two situations: before and after conducting a tourism awareness program. However, running such an awareness program does not necessarily guarantee a change in the local resident’s attitude towards tourism development. As such, the author suggested that an evaluation of attitude change can only be based on the community’s existing commitment to tourism development activities or on planning such activities.

Local resident knowledge of tourism is crucial in predicting the success of the tourism industry and whether it will positively impact the local economy. In examining Morro Bay residents’ attitude towards tourism, Stockton (2011), regarded local tourism knowledge as a predictor variable. The variable was measured as indirect knowledge or the residents’ level of tourism knowledge, while direct knowledge refers to what tourism has contributed to the country’s economy. The findings showed that direct economic and environmental tourism knowledge had a strong and significant impact on the residents’ attitude toward tourism. In contrast, indirect tourism knowledge only showed a moderate effect. The author suggested that direct tourism knowledge was a better predictor in explaining residents’ attitude towards tourism.

Similarly, Zhang (2008) emphasized the importance of knowledge of tourism for the local resident. The author argued that the community’s negative attitude towards tourism could be changed once further knowledge about tourism is gained. The value of tourism would also become more apparent to the local residents as they get involved in tourism-related activities, particularly when they meet the tourists in person. This study, therefore, postulates the third hypothesis:

H3:

Local residents’ knowledge of tourism positively influences the perceptions of river-based tourism development.

Based on the presented literature, Figure 2 illustrates the present research framework:

Figure 2. Research framework.

3. Research methodology

The research methodology for this study is quantitatively designed to generate information on the local resident’s support of the future river-based tourism development of Panchor. The town recorded a total population of 570 residents in 2017 (Department of Statistics, Malaysia), and as outlined by Krejcie and Morgan (1970) a 226-sample size was considered suitable. For the survey, the respondents were from Panchor residential communities who have lived there for at least five (5) years. The perception of this community’s samples is essential because they know the research site.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to design an appropriate instrument for data collection. This resulted in the design of a paper-based and online questionnaire survey. Respondents were given a choice of responding to the questionnaire in either English or Malay. Questions for this study were divided into two main sections, socio-demographic profile and study variables and measured using a six-point Likert scale ranging from “strongly disagree” (1) to “strongly agree” (6). The measurement items selected were adapted from several studies (refer Table 1).

Table 1. Sources of instrument

Section	Study variable	Sources
A	Demographic profile	Self-developed
B-A	Community attachment	Meimand et al. (2017)
B-B	Intrinsic motivation	Meimand et al. (2017)
B-C	Local tourism knowledge	Hanafiah et al. (2013) Khanna and Khajuria (2016); Abdollahzadeh and Sharifzadeh (2014); and Miyakuni (2012).
D	Resident’s perception	Moghavvemi et al. (2017) and Doh (2010).

A pre-test survey was conducted before the questionnaire was distributed. Five experts in quantitative studies were consulted to fine-tune the questionnaire items to eliminate unclear wording and grammatical inaccuracies. The questionnaire was finally reviewed by a group of communication experts from the Department of Malay of the Kulliyyah of Languages and Management, IIUM, in Pagoh Education Hub to ensure that the items were free of language errors. Based on their input, some modifications were made to the items in the questionnaire. This study involved 17 research assistants who volunteered to assist in the data collection. Their assistance was critical as access to the Panchor population through social media was minimal. The questionnaire was later distributed to the local community of Panchor through a self-administered survey in March and April 2019.

Due to this study’s relatively small sample size (Hair et al., 2017; Ong & Puteh, 2017), the SmartPLS 4.0 was employed to test the hypotheses. Using this method, the significance test of the relationship between variables was computed using the bootstrapping method (Hair et al., 2017). A bias-corrected confidence interval was determined using a bootstrap procedure with 500 samples to examine the hypothesized effects. Ramayah et al. (2013) suggested applying a bootstrapping technique to determine the significance level of loadings, weights, and path coefficients. As Anderson and Gerbing (1988) recommended, this study applied the two-stage analytical procedure. The validity and goodness of the measurement model were tested first before the relationship was examined.

4. Data analysis

4.1. Profile of respondents

Of the 226 targeted responses, 97 responded to the study, with only five questionnaires discarded. Although the data collected did not fulfil the study’s target set, it obtained an average survey response rate of 43%, valid according to Lindemann (2018).

Most respondents to the survey were males, with a percentage of 71% (N = 65), and 85 of them were Malays (92%). About 41% (N = 38) of the respondents were under 24. This result indicates Gen Y or the Millennials as the dominant group. Most respondents (48%, N = 44) did not pursue higher education after high school. Besides, 27% (N = 25) of the respondents were employed in the public sector, and 65% (N = 60) were in jobs unrelated to the tourism industry. Almost 60% of the residents have lived in Panchor for at least 20 years. More than half of the residents (69%, N = 63) were aware of the water activities held in the past at the Muar River near Panchor.

4.2. The measurement model

The first step in evaluating reflective measurement models involves examining the item’s loading. Loadings above 0.708 are recommended as they indicate that the construct explains more than 50 percent of the item’s variance and thus provides acceptable item reliability. Hair et al. (2017) suggested that the loadings of measured items should be at least 0.1 higher than the cross loadings to indicate sufficient discriminant validity. As shown in Table 2, the loadings of all constructs meet this criterion. The measurement model of all constructs was checked for reliability, convergence validity, and discriminant validity before the hypothetical model was tested. Table 3 shows the scores obtained from the analysis of the measurement model. Based on Table 2, all items’ loadings for the tested construct were higher than 0.70, which is the acceptable value suggested by Hair et al. (2017). The highest value for the average extracted variance (AVE) is 0.8367 and the lowest value is 0.7136 (refer Table 3), showing that all values exceeded 0.5 (Bagozzi & Yi, 1988), indicating that the construct explains at least 50 per cent of the variance of its items. Meanwhile results show the composite reliability scores (CR) were all above 0.7 (Hair et al., 2017).

Table 2. Items loading

Items	Community Attachment	Local Intrinsic Motivation	Local Knowledge About Tourism	Community Perceptions
A3	0.8295	0.5775	0.6386	0.5143
A4	0.9655	0.7938	0.7619	0.7372
A5	0.9434	0.7267	0.6982	0.7175
B10	0.7198	0.8854	0.7641	0.7230
B6	0.7392	0.8096	0.6460	0.6458
B8	0.6331	0.8895	0.7281	0.5820
B9	0.6003	0.9160	0.7425	0.6179
C11	0.7169	0.7441	0.8337	0.7039
C12	0.6490	0.7398	0.7706	0.6701
C13	0.6050	0.6072	0.8567	0.6527
C14	0.6554	0.6758	0.8906	0.7403
C15	0.6051	0.6221	0.8671	0.6798
D16	0.7217	0.7523	0.7408	0.9362
D17	0.5960	0.5780	0.6287	0.8887

Table 3. Measurement model

Construct	Items	Loading	AVE	CR
Community Attachment	A3	0.8295	0.8367	0.9356
	A4	0.9655
	A5	0.9434
Local Intrinsic Motivation	B10	0.8854	0.7674	0.9028
	B6	0.8096
	B8	0.8895
	B9	0.9160
Local Knowledge About Tourism	C11	0.8337	0.7136	0.9007
	C12	0.7706
	C13	0.8567
	C14	0.8906
	C15	0.8671
Community Perceptions	D16	0.9362	0.8331	0.8431
	D17	0.8887

Table 4 depicts the results of the discriminant validity test, that is, the extent to which a construct differs empirically from other constructs in the structural model. Proposing the traditional metric, Fornell and Larcker (1981) suggested that each construct AVE should be compared to the squared correlation between the constructs (as a measure of common variance) of the same construct and all other reflectively measured constructs in the structural model. As recommended, the AVE of each construct should be higher than the correlation between it and all other constructs in the model. As shown in Table 4, all constructs meet this criterion.

Table 4. Fornell-Larcker criterion- discriminant validity

Construct	Community Attachment	Community Perceptions	Local Intrinsic Motivation	Local Knowledge About Tourism
Community Attachment	0.9147
Community Perceptions	0.7287	0.9128
Local Intrinsic Motivation	0.7732	0.7390	0.8760
Local Knowledge About Tourism	0.7663	0.8178	0.8276	0.8448

4.3. The structural model

The structural equation model was performed using the SmartPLS 4 method. To estimate the structural model, a bootstrapping procedure was performed with 500 resamples to generate the t-values. Figure 3 presents the structural model while Table 5 presents the results of the hypothesis testing.

Figure 3. Path coefficient for structural model.

Table 5. The correlation Matrix of the Lantern variable

Variables	Community Attachment	Local Intrinsic Motivation	Local Knowledge About Tourism	Community Perceptions
Community Attachment	1
Local Intrinsic Motivation	0.735**	1
Local Knowledge About Tourism	0.76**	0.826**	1
Community Perceptions	0.696**	0.721**	0.803**	1

Notes: **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level.

Meanwhile, Table 5 shows the results of the correlation matrix of the constructs, indicating that the relationship among the constructs was significant.

4.4. Hypotheses testing

Table 6 demonstrates a positive relationship (β = 0.611, p < 0.01) between the local community’s attachment and perception of river-based tourism development. In this context, a positive relationship indicates that as the local community becomes more connected to the area, their positive perception of river-based tourism development also increases. A positive relationship between the local community’s intrinsic motivation and perception of river-based tourism development (β = 0.863, p < 0.01) shows that as the local community’s intrinsic motivation increases, their positive perception of river-based tourism development also increases. With a β value of 0.863, this relationship is strong and positive. A positive relationship was also found between the local community’s knowledge of tourism and perception of river-based tourism development (β = 0.309, p < 0.01), suggesting that as the local community’s knowledge of tourism increases, so does their positive perception of it. The R² = 0.889 shows that the 88.9% variation in the perception of river-based tourism development is explained by community attachment, local intrinsic motivation, and local tourism knowledge. This suggests that the model fits the data well and that these variables influence the local community’s perception of river-based tourism development.

Table 6. Results of the hypothesis testing

Hypothesis	Std Beta	Std Error	T-value	95% Bootstrap-t	Q^2	Remarks
H1	0.611	0.031	19.1	(−0.114,0.544)	0.02	small
H2	0.863	0.035	23.97	(0.143,0.859)	0.03	small
H3	0.309	0.036	8.1315	(−0.183,0.444)	0.04	small

Notes: R² = 0.889, P-value = 0.000, The bootstrap samples were 5000 samples, $q^2$=Predictive Relevance.

5. Discussion

Panchor Muar River has the potential to naturally attract tourists who are looking for leisure activities such as sightseeing, fishing activities, kayaking, and water skiing. River-based natural attractions are one of the initiatives to stimulate Panchor’s static current socio-economic situation. The resident’s perception and support for a river-based tourism development plan at Panchor Muar River is the initial stage towards realizing the plan. Based on the presented results, the objective of this study was met. All the variables in the study were positively associated. Aligning the results to the SET with the development in the area, the younger population may choose to stay as there may be more job opportunities for them. Younger community members have a more egalitarian view of the future tourism development concept, like developing new activities that appeal to younger demographics. They play an essential role in sustaining this tourism industry by using their creativity, skills, and passion for community involvement. This statement is aligned with past studies in developing economic countries, as investigated by Endris et al. (2022) and Toerien and Derudder (2015) in South Africa.

The positive relationship between resident attachment and their support for tourism is similar to the findings of previous scholars, which include Rasoolimanesh et al. (2015), Manyiwa et al. (2018), Meimand et al. (2017), and Morales et al. (2018), and Tournois and Rollero (2020). However, the significant results contradicted the findings made by Stockton (2011) and Rasoolimanesh et al. (2017). This study suggests that the level of community attachment can be increased by actively engaging them in river-based activities. These include swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, manoeuvring, and steering cruise vessel ships. Since many generations of residents have stayed in Panchor, their involvement in the river-based activities may result in their strong attachment to the place. In addition to that, as theorized by SET, Shirleyana and Sunindijo (2020) mentioned that support from the government could reduce physical and economic risks, thus encouraging a positive resident attachment towards river-based tourism in Panchor. Therefore, hypothesis H1, resident attachment concerning their perceptions of river-based tourism development, is accepted in this study.

The positive and robust relationship between the resident’s intrinsic motivation and perception of river-based tourism development supported the second hypothesis. This study hypothesizes that the local resident’s intrinsic motivation is related to their perception of river-based tourism development. Similar results have also been found in studies on local intrinsic motivation (Allan, 2011; Feng et al., 2016; Gribanova & Kliestik, 2021, Herlambang et al., 2021; Kim et al., 2020; Lee et al., 2014; Petenya, 2016). It is essential to understand resident motivation because it is at the core of local behaviour (Ham & Woolcock, 2022). Intrinsic motivation in this context refers to the motivation to get the opportunity to host tourists and to establish relationships with them. It is also the feeling of being needed, getting self-respect, and having a role to play as a community member.

Local intrinsic motivation can be understood as the local resident’s engagement in an activity executed for its own satisfaction and pleasure rather than seeking an external reward. This is implied in the resident’s positive perception of the proposed river-based tourism development in their area. They are intrinsically motivated and interested in contacting people outside the village to learn more about other countries and cultures. Consistent with Reindrawati (2022), Panchor communities also believe that engaging in river-based tourism development will allow them to play a role in their community by becoming entrepreneurs and expanding their network. Therefore, this study has proven that the resident’s positive perception and support for a river-based tourism development plan are more than just economic gains. The non-monetary gains or internal rewards are also crucial in determining the locals’ perception and support of such a project. The findings of this study support the claim made by Saeed et al. (2019) that non-economic gains are also crucial in helping a tourism development plan.

The third hypothesis concerns the resident’s knowledge of tourism, affecting their perception of a future river-based tourism development project for their community. This hypothesis is fully supported. The positive and significant relationship between the local resident’s knowledge of tourism and their perception of river-based tourism development confirmed that knowledge of tourism is the most influential determinant of perception. This result is also aligned with the findings of previous studies, for example, Javier (2016), Rhoden and Kaaristo (2020), and Meimand et al. (2017). The locals in Panchor also had a good knowledge of tourism. They seemed more concerned about what tourism development would cost and how it would benefit their community socially, economically, and environmentally. In line with Ricart et al. (2019), it can be concluded that the more knowledgeable the residents, the more positively inclined they would be towards tourism development. They know that development would mean a better standard of living, more job opportunities, and recreational activities for the residents to participate in. The development would also mean better incentives for environmental protection and conservation.

The result of this study has significant implications for theory and practice. Theoretically, the findings revealed that local resident attachment, intrinsic motivation, and tourism knowledge significantly relate to residents’ perceptions of river-based tourism. This study supports SET’s interpretation with the positive relationship between independent and dependent variables. The residents believed they would be more persuaded to support tourism development if they could benefit from it. This study shows that the residents supported a river-based tourism development plan for their community. As reflected by their positive perceptions of the initiative, Bourchard and Wike (2022) and Ham and Woolcock (2022) have reported it. Therefore, a river-based tourism project in Panchor can attract tourists by offering opportunities to seek new experiences. This study also contributes to a reliable way of measuring river-based tourism from the local residents’ perceptions.

On a practical level, this study recommends that both the public and private sectors conduct a campaign or workshop that can enhance the local resident’s level of understanding and knowledge of tourism, as this study found that residents’ perception of tourism is more favourable when they have more knowledge of tourism and the local economy. Besides, the local resident’s involvement in tourism-related activities will also give them access to tourists and increase their knowledge of tourism. As for the public tourism sector, the future tourism planner will benefit from a better understanding of residents’ perceptions of river-based tourism. Like the Panchor community, other local communities can also be brought in to participate in the decision-making process for any tourism development project to improve the community’s image and socio-economic status.

6. Conclusion

To conclude, this study shows that the residents of Panchor town receive the idea of having river-based tourism as it would lead to a balanced demographic creation and a steady socio-economic development of the community. The findings advance the current knowledge in the tourism field because all aspects of independent variables were positively related and significantly influenced the residents’ perception of river-based tourism development with a high R-squared value, indicating a more reliable and trustworthy result. Even though the results limit the perception of the locals in Panchor only, ignoring the perception of the people who are outside of Panchor. This study provides an essential platform for further feasibility studies in neighbor residential areas to reconfirm that Panchor town can be given a new sense of life and regain its glory. Hence, the relevant authorities should consider getting the community aware of the potential benefits and sustainability of a tourism development plan through careful planning and considering the community’s needs and resources. The relevant authorities such as the tourism department, tour operators, local communities and tourists may require additional research in the future. It is central to consider these limitations and address them through comprehensive planning, sustainable practices, and partnership between the local community, government agencies, and other stakeholders to warrant the long-standing success of rural tourism in Pancor.

Correction

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation for supporting data collection by the M8 batch, the Department of Tourism of the International Islamic University of Malaysia. The authors are indebted to Professor Dr Nuraihan, Mr. Haziq Danial Hazizi and Mr. JackieNg for their contributions to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Self-Funded at the moment. But shall claim it to Iternational Islamic University Malaysia [nil].

Notes on contributors

Mazni Saad

Associate Professor Dr Mazni Saad serves the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). She experienced an interdisciplinary field of operation management, specifically in tourism and hospitality management.

Nor Azilah Husin

Professor Dr. Nor Azilah is now a Professor and Dean at the School of Business and Social Science, at Albukhary International University. She is passionate about researching any business and management field.

Siti Nur Hidayah Rosman

Siti Nur Hidayah Rosman serves the National Defence University of Malaysia. To date, she has successfully published journal articles and book chapters.

Rosita Husain

Rosita Husain is a lecturer at the Universiti Selangor. Rosita is actively collaborating for innovative approaches to data analysis in social sciences.

Lilisuriani Abdul Latif @ Bapoo

Asst. Prof Dr. Lilisuriani Abdul Latif @ Bapoo currently serves the IIUM. While her focus and interest are mainly in English for Specific Purposes, she actively constructs courses and activities which engage her students with groups of people in society.