MOSQUE TOURISM AND URBAN CULTURAL IDENTITY: A SUSTAINABLE PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR MALAYSIAN CITIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i44.2283Keywords:
Mosque Tourism, Urban Cultural Identity, Islamic Placemaking, Sustainable Urban Planning, Heritage CitiesAbstract
This article examines mosque tourism as a spatial and cultural mechanism shaping urban cultural identity in Malaysian cities. Focusing on Kuala Terengganu, Melaka, George Town, and Putrajaya, it investigates how mosques function beyond religious institutions to contribute to urban placemaking, heritage representation, and tourism development. Using a qualitative comparative case study approach integrating documentary analysis, visual and spatial analysis, and semi-structured expert interviews, the study identifies three interrelated dimensions: heritage-embedded identity formation, Islamic placemaking, and governance-driven urban integration. Findings show that mosque tourism contributes to urban identity formation, but its expression varies across contexts. Melaka and George Town reflect layered multicultural heritage identities shaped by historical continuity, while Kuala Terengganu demonstrates organic Malay-Islamic spatial identity rooted in traditional settlement patterns. In contrast, Putrajaya represents a planned symbolic Islamic identity shaped through state-led urban design. Islamic placemaking is found to be central in shaping spatial experience and urban legibility, while governance fragmentation may constrain the effective integration of mosque tourism into urban planning systems. The study proposes a conceptual model positioning mosque tourism as a strategic component of urban identity systems rather than a standalone tourism product and highlights the need for integrated planning frameworks that align heritage conservation, tourism governance, and urban design to support sustainable urban cultural development in Malaysia.
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