Spatial Characterization of Green Space Landscape Structure in Kota Bharu for Sustainable Tourism Planning

Abstract

Globally, green space landscape structure has been used as tourist attraction in cities to increase the economy of the country in the tourism sector. However, lack of characterization of green space landscape structure has led to poor management of green space landscape such as lack of information on green space landscape structure to tourists and younger generations, thereby decreasing tourism revenue. The purpose of this study is to characterize three sites of green space landscape structures with potential for tourism in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia for future sustainable ecotourism site management and planning. The three sites are Taman Perbandaran Tengku Anis, K4 Riding Horse and Splash Water Theme Park. To characterize the green space landscape structure in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, remotely-sensed data of 2016, Geographical Information System (GIS) and landscape metrics were used in this study. The results found that Taman Perbandaran Tengku Anis has the most potential to be developed as an ecotourism site compared to K4 Riding Horse and Splash Water Theme Park with the low number of patches, high mean patch area, high largest patch index and favorable ecotourism activity. A map of spatial distribution and characterisation of green space landscape has been produced, which is useful for future sustainable ecotourism planning, development and management of green space landscape structure.