Spatial Analysis Of Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Sustainable Leadership In Coastal Communities

Abstract

Good leadership encourages good communities and importance in ensuring the sustainability of coastal tourism, especially in Terengganu. However, limited research has been done on how much sociodemographic characteristics affect sustainable leadership. The main objective of this research is to examine the relationship between variables of sociodemographic and sustainable leadership. Data was collected from 594 respondents along the coastal area of Terengganu. Five main variables of demographic factors including age, state, level of education, income and occupation were analysed to determine the influence towards sustainable leadership. These variables were evaluated in the context of five significant leadership dimensions: communication skills, critical thinking, ethical and moral skills, and sustainable leadership, and community involvement in tourism development. To identify patterns and relationships between leadership perceptions and sociodemographic variables, descriptive analysis and cross-tabulation methods were applied. Moreover, spatial analysis was utilized to visualize the variations as well as highlighted areas that needed more development and those with great leadership skills. The findings showed that age, occupation, and education significantly influence sustainable leadership, with higher education correlated with stronger leadership perceptions. Self-employed people and those working for the government showed greater engagement in sustainable leadership practices, while those with higher education levels (bachelor's degree and above) showed stronger perceptions of leadership.  From the spatial analysis, rural districts like Setiu and Besut demonstrated lesser leadership participation, indicating areas that require attention, whereas urbanised districts like Kuala Terengganu and Marang shown stronger leadership traits. This study emphasises the necessity of focused leadership development initiatives and legislative actions to improve sustainable leadership in coastal communities.