Potentials and challenges of involving indigenous communities in ecotourism in Belum-Temenggor Forest Complex, Perak, Malaysia

摘要

Ecotourism is usually regarded as responsible travel to nature-based areasudwith the aims to enjoy nature while at the same time to contribute towardsudthe protection and conservation of nature as well as to the welfare of localudcommunities in that area. Most significantly, ecotourism should provideudopportunity for the locals to participate and gain benefit from itsuddevelopment. Belum Temengor forest is among the most promisingudecotourism destinations in Malaysia. Furthermore, this area is currentlyudwidely being promoted up to international level due to its complex ecosystemudand rich wildlife diversity. Not only blessed with rich and flourishing floraudand fauna, this area also shelters the indigenous orang asli communitiesudmade up of Jahai and Temiar together with their unique cultures. However,udthe main research questions explored in this paper are: Are these ‘shy’udindigenous communities prepared to delve into the fast developingudecotourism sector? How are they involved in ecotourism and do they benefitudfrom it? This paper examines how the orang asli perceive ecotourism and itsuddevelopment, and how ecotourism in turn affects them. The main researchudinstrument used is qualitative techniques based on interviews with keyudinformants. Results indicate that the BTFC is facing increasing threats, andudtourism development is threatening its natural heritage. The results alsoudshow that ecotourism has great potentials but the orang asli communityudenjoys little of the tourism benefits. Instead, orang asli cultures are eroded,udtheir natural habitat on which they rely on for their subsistence increasinglyuddestroyed, and their villages encroached upon. Ecotourism needs to find audbalance between economics, environment and social equity, viz. where theudorang asli community is involved and enjoys equally the benefits to ensure itsudsustainability in BTFC.