The effect of tourism activities towards natural resource conservation in Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Langkawi

Abstract

Tourism is one of the key sector that generate income to Malaysia economic. Therefore, LADA had made great effort in positioning Langkawi Island on the list of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as one of a recognized Geopark in June, 2007. The international acknowledgment from UNESCO, raised Langkawi Geopark to the eyes of the world as one of the conserved geological heritage area. Nevertheless, it has been reported in 2014, the island had received a warning card due to conservation issues. The incident could affect the Geopark status of the island. This complications might caused by numerous factors including the excessiveness of tourism activities. Therefore this study aims to ascertain type of tourism activities that affected natural resource conservation. The focus area is in Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, Langkawi. Several problems have been identified such as 1) tourism activities increased pollution along Kilim waterways, 2) tourism activities affect nature and wildlife habitat in Kilim, 3) also high capacity and frequency of tourists arrivals affected bat habitat and natural heritage in Bat Cave. Meanwhile, the research objectives are 1) to study type of tourism activities that increased pollution along Kilim waterways, 2) to recognize factor that affected nature and wildlife habitat in Kilim 3) and to ascertain form of human interference that affected bat habitat and natural heritage in Bat Cave. Data were obtained from structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observations. All respondents were selected from local residents, staffs involved in Kilim tourism and tourists. Then, all data were analyzed using SPSS software into descriptive and one-way anova analysis. Most problematical questions received the highest score with extremely agree in likert scale survey by respondents. This proved most of the respondents witnessed the conservation issues in Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. Hence, in order to conserve the area for future generations as well as to be continuously recognized by UNESCO, all parties involved in Kilim Karst Geoforest Park tourism including staff, local residents and tourists should take responsibility in conserving the valuable natural resources. Keywords: Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, recognition, tourism activities, conservation, natural resources. Pelancongan adalah salah satu sektor utama yang menjana pendapatan kepada ekonomi Malaysia. Oleh itu, ‘Langkawi Authority Development’ (LADA) telah berusaha keras bagi meletakkan Pulau Langkawi dalam senarai Pertubuhan Pendidikan, Sains dan Kebudayaan Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (UNESCO) sebagai salah satu Geopark yang diiktiraf pada bulan Jun 2007. Pengikhtirafan antarabangsa daripada UNESCO itu telah membangkitkan Langkawi ‘Geopark’ di mata dunia sebagai salah satu kawasan warisan geologi yang dipelihara. Walau bagaimanapun, pada tahun 2014 pulau tersebut telah dilaporkan menerima kad peringatan kerana isu-isu pemuliharaan. Kejadian itu boleh menjejaskan status pengikhtirafan ‘Geopark’ di Pulau Langkawi. Kajian penyelidikan ini mempercayai bahawa komplikasi ini disebabkan oleh pelbagai faktor termasuk aktiviti pelancongan yang berlebihan. Matlamat kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan jenis aktiviti pelancongan yang menjejaskan pemuliharaan sumber alam semula jadi di Kilim Karst Geoforst Park, Langkawi. Beberapa masalah telah dikenalpasti; 1) aktiviti pelancongan meningkatkan pencemaran sepanjang laluan air Kilim, 2) aktiviti pelancongan menjejaskan alam dan habitat hidupan liar di Kilim, 3) serta kekerapan ketibaan pelancong yang tinggi bagi melawat habitat kelawar dan warisan semulajadi di Gua Kelawar telah menjejaskan kondisi lokasi tersebut. Koleksi data diperolehi daripada soal selidik berstruktur, wawancara dan pemerhatian separa berstruktur. Responden dipilih daripada penduduk setempat, kakitangan yang terlibat dalam pelancongan dan pelancong yang melawat Kilim. Kemudian, semua data dianalisis dengan menggunakan perisian SPSS ke dalam statistik deskriptif dan analisis Anova sehala. Kebanyakan responden bersetuju beberapa aktiviti pelancongan seperti 'Eagle Feeding' yang telah dijalankan semasa 'Eagle Watching' serta pelbagai jenis pelancongan yang telah menjejaskan sumber asli di kawasan Kilim. Oleh itu, untuk memulihara kawasan ini bagi generasi akan datang serta terus disokong oleh UNESCO, semua pihak yang terlibat dalam pelancongan Kilim Karst Geoforest Park termasuk kakitangan, penduduk tempatan dan pelancong harus bertanggungjawab dalam pemuliharaan sumber semula jadi yang berharga. Kata kunci: Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, pengiktirafan, aktiviti pelancongan, pemuliharaan, sumber alam semula jadi