Economic Impact

The direct economic impact of the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The expenditure or consumption of visitors at the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is the tourism sector's main measurement, also known as the main revenue recognized by the museum management. In the interview session with one of the workers, she explained that the annual income in 2021 is the worst compared with other years. 

The number of tourists arriving has decreased since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also mentioned that, during this period, the government had introduced various assistance measures to ensure business sustainability and support the tourism industry's recovery. In 2022 the Malaysian government launched the "2022 Tourism Recovery Plan" for the tourism sector. Therefore,  the contribution of Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum to Gross Domestic Products in 2022 has been increasing until now. For example, income taxes, sales and services tax, land tax, and more have contributed to the state government and city council. 

The direct impact of decreased visitor expenditure at a heritage museum can significantly affect employment. When fewer tourists visit the museum and spend less on entrance fees, souvenirs, and other services, the museum's revenue declines. This decrease in revenue can lead to budget cuts, which might result in the museum having to reduce its workforce to cut costs. Reduced staff numbers can affect various areas, including museum guides, security personnel, administrative staff, and maintenance workers. For instance, during the interview with an employee, she mentioned that the museum used to offer guided tours daily, but this has been reduced to Saturdays only since the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this reduction in employment can lead to a broader economic impact, affecting the livelihoods of those directly employed by the museum and potentially reducing overall economic activity in the surrounding community.