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Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(2): 213-218, 2012

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Perception of Local Community Towards Community-Based Ecotourism
1
Er, A.C., 2Ravichandran Moorthy, 1Lyndon, N., 1Selvadurai, S., 3Sheau Tsuey Chong, 4Adam,
J.H.,
1
Associate Professor, PhD, School of Social, Development and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Social
Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
2
School of History, Political Science and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
3
School of Psychology and Human Development, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
4
Bukit Fraser Research Center, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600
Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Er, A.C., Ravichandran Moorthy, Lyndon, N., Selvadurai, S., Sheau Tsuey Chong, Adam, J.H.;
Perception of Local Community Towards Community-Based Ecotourism.

ABSTRACT

The perception of local community can affect the acceptance of any economic venture. As the name
implies, community-based ecotourism has the local community as an integral bulwark. Thus, the objective of
this paper is to study the perception of local community in the vicinity of Lata Jarum towards community-based
ecotourism. The study area is focused on the surroundings of Lata Jarum and Lata Jarum itself. This area is rich
in biodiversity with endemic flora and fauna. A field survey via a structured questionnaire was conducted on
194 village respondents living in the vicinity of Lata Jarum. This is also complemented by observation during
field survey. The data were analyzed descriptively. The most significant finding is that the majority have a
neutral perception due to a lack of understanding and knowledge about community-based ecotourism. The other
findings indicate that both positive perception and negative perception towards community-based ecotourism
have a minority perspective. However, the responses for positive perception are larger as compared to the
negative perception. The positive perception is mainly due to pecuniary returns whereas those opposing want to
maintain the traditional way of life. The concluding remark is that for ecotourism to succeed with effective local
community participation, a dual approach i.e. a top-down and bottom-up approach needs to be adopted. Future
research on the dual top-down and bottom-up approach including training and development, will help in
capacity building.

Key words: Local community, Community-based ecotourism, Perception, Top-down, Bottom-up.

Introduction

Perception is the process how an organism attains awareness or understanding of its environment via
organizing and interpreting sensory information (Pomerantz 2003). The concept of perception cannot be
observed explicitly and involves the psychology of an individual’s thoughts. Perception is influenced by values
and requires emotions with immediate emotions more intense than previous emotions (Boven et al. 2009). As a
result, perception is most often bias. However, Ittelson and Gibson agree that an individual and its environment
are inseparable as perception is based on constant interaction between these two (Ittelson 1973, Gibson 1979).
Perception helps us to understand how humans live, learn, work and perceive their environment (Ingold 2000).
One of the core precepts of ecotourism is the involvement of local communities (Senko et al. 2011). The
participation of local communities in ecotourism ventures has an ethical dimension, as local communities should
benefit from such a relationship (Er 2010, Weaver and Lawton 2007, Azreen Rozainee Abdullah et al. 2011).
Community-based ecotourism essentially benefits both the local communities and the environment (Mohd Rusli
Yacob et al. 2009, Kiss 2004). Local communities that are actively involved in an ecotourism venture would be
motivated to conserve the environment as the environment helps to generate revenue for them. The Pahang State
Government in Malaysia, in its quest for sustainable development, has identified Lata Jarum as being prime for

Corresponding Author: Dr Er Ah Choy, Head of Development Science Programme, School of Social, Development and
Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan
Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Tel: 03-89213945, Fax: 03-89251168.
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ecotourism development. This development is in its nascent stage with participation of nearby villagers in
homestay programmes.
There are many researches on perception and perception related subject matters. Likewise, there is also a
fair number of researches on community-based ecotourism. However, there is a gap in terms of research on
perception of local communities towards community-based ecotourism. Very often the views of local
communities are either neglected or secondary in nature as a top-down approach is commonly adopted. The
views of local communities either to participate or reject an ecotourism venture is often (post) incidental or
complementary as a bottom-up approach is very seldom adopted. This research addresses the gap by focusing on
the perception of local communities. As such, the aim of this research is to study the perception of local
community in the vicinity of Lata Jarum towards community-based ecotourism.

Method:

The study area for this research is the surroundings of Lata Jarum and Lata Jarum itself. Lata Jarum is
located in the district of Raub in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. This area is rich in bio-diversity and is part of
the Gunung Benum (Benum Mountain) Forest Reserve. There are endemic flora and fauna with species like
Rafflesia located within Lata Jarum. Traversing across Lata Jarum are streams and a river, interspersed with
waterfalls.
Primary data were gathered via a field survey with a structured questionnaire. The sampling frame was the
village population who live in the immediate vicinity of Lata Jarum. A minimum of 180 cases was targeted but
194 cases were obtained in the field survey. For statistical accuracy, a minimum of 30 cases is required (Bailey
1978, Burns and Bush 2009). However, the minimum of 180 cases was targeted for a higher statistical
confidence level. This was complemented by observation via the researcher and research assistants during field
survey. The data from this survey were descriptively analyzed using Likert-scale perception values.

Results and Discussion

Perception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Increase Income and Quality of Life:

Figure 1 reveals that the strongly agree and agree responses amount to 35 percent as opposed to 5 percent
for strongly disagree and disagree responsesfor perceived increasing income and better quality of life.
Favourable perception outnumbered unfavourable perception with regard to this perspective. The favourable
perception is due to the possibility that the respondents can partake in economic activities that can generate
increasing or additional income that will contribute to a better quality of life. Those holding an unfavourable
perception viewed community-based ecotourism as having the possibility of impacting negatively on their
traditional way of life via touristic intrusion. However, the majority of respondents have a neutral perspective.
This neutral perspective is due to a lack of understanding with regard to what ecotourism represents. This is also
compounded by the lack of knowledge with regard to the precepts of ecotourism.

Fig. 1: Pereception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Increase Income and Quality of Life.

Perception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Generate Employment Opportunities:

Figure 2 indicates that the strongly agree and agree responses totalled 32 percent in relation to the
perception that community-based ecotourism will generate job opportunities. Venturing into community-based
ecotourism will allow them to be operators of eco-lodges, restaurants, food stalls, fishing ponds, handicraft cum
souvenir shops. This in turn will help to generate employment for themselves and their family members.


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Community-based ecotourism will also open up the opportunity to be a tour or park guide as they are well
versed in the terrains of Lata Jarum. If ecotourism were able to attract the attention of multinational corporations
or large corporations, myriad employment opportunities would be generated for the locals.

Fig. 2: Perception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Generate Employment Opportunities.

A total of seven percent of respondents strongly disagree and disagree that community-based ecotourism
will generate employment opportunities. They hold the perspective that the large majority of locals would not be
able to enjoy employment opportunities, as labour would come from elsewhere.
Likewise as in Figure 1, the majority of respondents i.e. 61 percent held a neutral perspective. This is due to
the fact that there is a lack of understanding of what ecotourism is all about and how ecotourism can benefit
themselves in terms of employment opportunities.

Perception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Increase The Demand For Local Handicrafts:

A total of 28 percent of the respondents either strongly agree or agree with the perception that community-
based ecotourism will increase the demand for local handicrafts as highlighted in Figure 3. Ecotourists will not
only visit the ecological sites but will also buy local handicrafts as souvenirs for themselves or their loved ones
and friends. Collectively, a total of five perent either strongly disagree or disagree with the above perception.
They contended that the local handicrafts will be mass produced handicradfts brought from elsewhere. These
mass produced handicrafts will be cheaper on a per unit basis as compared to the local cottage operators who
will churn out a lower volume of production. This in turn will not encourage the demand for locally produced
handicrafts due to higher cost factor.

Fig. 3: Perception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Increase The Demand For Local Handicrafts.

Like in the above, the majority of 67 percent respondents are neutral with regard to this perception. This
again reflects the lack of understanding pertaining to ecotourism and how ecotourism can impact on the demand
for local handicrafts. They hold this perception as they are not involved in the production of local handicrafts
either for personal consumption or for sale. As such, they cannot relate to the increasing demand for local
handicrafts if ecotourism were to take off.


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Perception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Provide Part-Time Income or Business Opportunities:

Figure 4 shows that 25 perent of the respondents either strongly agree or agree with the perception that
community-bsaed ecotourism wil provide part-time income or business opportunities. These respondents
recognized the potential of being a trader or a stall operator to earn a part-time or side income. If ecotourism
were to take off, the need for drinks, food, fruits and souvenirs will arise due to the arrivals of ecotourists.These
respondents also see themselves as part of the supply-chain to the ecotourism operators in terms of food supplies
like vegetables and fruits. They also see the potential of homestay programme being developed further as they
have heard of success stories elsewhere in Malaysia. These respondents also view that the immediate forest
surroundings offer them a steady source of raw materials for making local handicrafts. The village headman also
indicated that there is a need to undergo training to produce handicrafts based on in-situ raw materials. In
addition, these respondents also view the potential of part-time job opportunities offered by ecotourism
operators.

Fig. 4: Perception That Community-Based Ecotourism Will Provide Part-Time Income or Business
Opportunities.

The majority of 68 percent of the respondents, as in the above cases, held a neutral perspectve. This is due
to a lack of understanding of the benefits of ecotourism as they have no inclination whatsoever to participate in
part-time job or business opportunities.

Perception that Community-Based Ecotourism will Create Problems for the Local Community:

Figure 5 highlights that 26 percent of the respondents either strongly disagree or disagree with the
perception that community-based ecotourism will create problems for the local community. These respondents
held the view that ecotourism will bring in more benefits than problems for the local community. The success of
ecotourism will help enhance conservation efforts as income generating activities are dependent on these natural
assets.

Fig. 5: Perception that Community-Based Ecotourism will Create Problems for the Local Community.


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Income generating activities will ultimately lead to a better quality of life and the youngsters in the local
community will not be attracted to leave for jobs in urban centers. They also felt that ecotourism will be a
catalyst to attract the local youngsters back to the village. Ecotourism will create entrepreneurial or job
opportunities and at the same time the cost of living will be lower as negligible expenses will be incurred for
transportation to and from work. Besides that, there is no need to pay for rent while at the same time being able
to enjoy home cooked food.
However, four percent of the respondents either strongly agree or agree that community-based ecotourism
will create problems. The arrival of ecotourists, they believe, will result in increasing gathering of herbs for
traditional medicine and local edible forest produce. They fear that this may result in the extinction of certain
floral species. Based on their past experiences, some tourists to Lata Jarum had illegally gathered certain herbal
species. They also fear that better access as a result of ecotourism development will attract more poachers and
illegal loggers to this area.
On the other hand, the majority of 70 percent respondents held a neutral perspective. The main reason is a
lack of understandingand knowledge ofecotourism. As such, they are not able to evaluate the potential problems
that are associated with ecotourism.

Conclusion:

The most significant finding is that the majority have a neutral perception. This points to a lack of
understanding and knowledge about ecotourism. If ecotourism were sustainable, mutual benefits can accrue to
both the participating local community and the environment. As such, a top-down approach may not win the
hearts and minds of the people.
The minority that held a positive perception towards community-based ecotourism is much larger than the
minority holding an opposing view. Those holding a positive perception feels that community-based ecotourism
will benefit them in terms of increased income thus leading to a better quality of life, generation of employment
opportunities, increased demand for local handicrafts, provision of part-time income or business opportunities
and not posing any problem for the local community. They believe that they are able to tap the above
opportunities. On the other hand, those holding a negative perception have an opposing view with regard to the
above. They believe that this may upset the equilibrium in village life and ecotourism will intrude into their
personal affairs.
The implication at the local and global level for ecotourism development policy planners is the adoption of
a dual approach i.e. a top-down and bottom-up approach. Winning the hearts and minds of the people via
effective local community participation will help in conservation efforts as they have vested interests in
protecting the natural assets. Future research can be directed at how to carry out an effective top-down and
bottom-up approach, including training and development, for capacity building.

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