| Summary: | Rural service centres (PPLBs) do not only play a vital role as focal points for economic activities and centralisation of facilities, but also in providing services for rural tourism activities. However, issues like limited access to tourism in rural areas, disproportionate distribution and limited provision of facilities, as well as constraints on maintenance funding sources have resulted in the slower growth of some PPLBs with potential for tourism activities, particularly those in the National Special Tourism Zone (ZPKN). The question that arises is how a specific function contributes to the strengths or weaknesses of a rural service centre (PPLB). Hence, this study aimed to measure the strength (supply) level of PPLBs that supports tourism activities, determine the basic functions that form the role of a PPLB in the ZPKN, and summarise the roles of PPLBs in tourism activities in the ZPKN. Through stratified random sampling, a total of 480 respondents participated in this study, of whom 240 were tourists, while the other 240 were entrepreneurs. Data were collected via observation, depth interview, report appraisal and questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics were employed to answer the first research objective, while location coefficient analysis through centrality index was used to achieve the second research objective. Based on the location coefficient analysis, the PPLB offering the most functions was in Mersing with a mean value of 40.9, while the PPLB offering the least functions was in Sedili Besar with a mean value of 183.9. Seven (7) fundamental functions of PPLBs, which support tourism activities, were identified. Of these, traditional functions involving agriculture (29 functions), fishery (21 functions), carpentry and handicraft (10 functions), were on a decline. In contrast, functions involving retail (1550 functions), industry (150 functions), modern services (493 functions) and tourism (103 functions) were on the rise. In relation to the third research objective, it can be summarised that the PPLBs studied had six (6) main roles pertaining to tourism activities. PPLBs acted as destinations for tourists to gain access to basic necessities, accommodation, public transportation hub, credit and financial facilities, tourist information and communication centre and other supplementary services (health and safety). The implication is that although PPLBs provide limited functions, tourists do not have to travel far to gain access to these facilities. The impact of technology and social media has resulted in previously scarce commodities to be obtained easily and quickly.
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