LOCAL TOURISTS’ PERCEPTION OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN LABUAN MARINE PARK, MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22452/jati.vol30no2.4Keywords:
Labuan Marine Park, ecotourism development, Marine Spatial Planning, local perception, conservation awarenessAbstract
Marine parks in Malaysia are designated protected areas where human activities are restricted to conserve marine ecosystems. These parks promote ecotourism and increase public awareness of the marine environmental importance. Understanding local tourists’ perceptions of ecotourism development in marine parks is essential for balancing conservation objectives with visitor expectations. This study investigates local tourists’ perceptions of ecotourism development in Labuan Marine Park (LMP) using a questionnaire survey. Data were analysed with SPSS employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The results indicate that most respondents recognised the park’s conservation purpose, and approximately half strongly agreed that Labuan Marine Park had deteriorated due to surrounding development. While respondents expressed general satisfaction with ecotourism services in LMP, they recommended improvements to certain infrastructure. Therefore, marine park development should be carefully planned and regulated to align with tourist expectations while safeguarding the ecosystem. The study highlights the potential of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to enhance marine ecotourism in LMP.
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