Teaching Arabic for tourism purposes in Perlis: Needs, opportunities and challenges

Duniya, Nur Amnah and Abd. Hamid, Mohd Azrul Azlen and Sahrir, Muhammad Sabri (2025) Teaching Arabic for tourism purposes in Perlis: Needs, opportunities and challenges. Journal of Islamic, Social, Economics and Development (JISED), 10 (75). pp. 113-128. E-ISSN 0128-1755

PDF - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (461kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

With an increasing number of Arabic-speaking tourists in Malaysia, particularly in the northern region including the state of Perlis, the needs to accommodate their needs has emerged in the light of teaching Arabic for tourism purposes. As teaching language for specific purposes differs from general purposes, it must be implemented based on specific tourism-related situations faced by learners based on the need analysis. This study intends to investigates the necessities in implementing teaching Arabic for tourism purposes in Perlis in term of needs, opportunities and challenges. Drawing on the existing literature, tourism data and current initiatives and plannings, this study identified that positive trends of Arab tourists, importance of communication skills in tourism sector, addressing staff language and cultural gaps as the main needs for this initiative in Perlis. Among the opportunities proved by this study are international tourism events, embedding Arabic language into education, developing digital and blended learning and strategic partnership. However, challenges persist including lack of qualified trainers, material limitations, logistical and financial constraints besides low learning motivation among tourism employees. This study provides practical recommendations in addressing the needs, seizing opportunity and navigating challenges such as localized learning materials, micro-credentials and cultural immersion programme, Arabic interpreters’ trainings, digital learning platforms and strategic partnership. Hence, this study demonstrated the needs towards teaching Arabic for tourism purposes in Perlis as a strategy to equip the employees with required Arabic communication skills. To conclude, this initiative is beneficial to enhance service quality and tourists’ satisfaction which contributes in positioning Perlis as a leading tourism destination among Arab tourists.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Arabic for Tourism Purposes, Teaching Language for Specific Purposes, Perlis Tourism, Communication Skills
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) P Language and Literature > PJ Semitic > PJ6001 Arabic
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages Kulliyyah of Education
Depositing User:	Prof Dr Muhammad Sabri Sahrir
Date Deposited:	09 Sep 2025 14:19
Last Modified:	09 Sep 2025 14:19
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/123102

Actions (login required)

View Item