ABSTRACT
Benchmarking destinations in support with other empirical findings can be used as a guide for any tourism development. This qualitative approach was used in re-vitalising Port Dickson (PD) as a leading beach tourism destination for Malaysia. PD was a top beach resort tourism destination in her glory days of 1990s. Nonetheless, after series of challenges, the destination lost its positioning in Malaysia. Hence, the main aim of this research is to benchmark PD with best practice in Malaysia namely Penang and Langkawi, and also selected countries in the region, namely Phuket and Krabi in Thailand, and Bali in Indonesia, in the management of a beach resort tourism destination. This qualitative approach adopted in this study analyzes the best practice in other beach destinations. The findings of the study is used to make recommendations that can increase the potential of PD as a leading beach resort domestic tourism destination.
