Urban Hotel Location and Evolution in a Developing Country The Case of Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Abstract

Urban tourism in developing countries has received only limited attention. Yet, national capitals of developing countries are the gateways to these countries and a large proportion of the total hotel capacity is located there. This paper analyzes the evolution of hotel locations in Kuala Lumpur over the last century. Five stages are identified and discussed. The analysis of the spatio-temporal development of hotel location in Kuala Lumpur reveals valuable insights into urban tourism development patterns in a developing country. Some of the patterns coincide with previously postulated urban hotel locations in developed countries, others deviate from them. In summary, seven types of hotel locations were identified in Kuala Lumpur, namely railway station, old historic city/old CBD, access road location, ethnic neighbourhoods, new CBD, extension of new CBD, and airport location. The most important hotel location in Kuala Lumpur, the Golden Triangle or new CBD, is a location type commonly found in Southeast Asian countries, especially in the combination of large modern hotels and deluxe shopping centres with brand names abound. It appears as if tourism as a "modern" tertiary activity is an integral part of today's CBD in, at least some, developing countries.