Success indicator’s for Sabah ecotourism sites
Tshin, Lip Vui1, Awangku Hassanal Bahar Pengiran Bagul2.
Sabah, one of the thirteen Malaysian states, is located in the northern part of Malaysian
Borneo. It is a melting pot of many different cultures and traditions, being home to about
2.9 million people with more than 30 ethnic groups. It is also known as one of the twelve
mega-diversity sites in the world with its rich living heritage, ethnic makes it ideal for the
ecotourism industry. Sabah enjoys a steady flow of eco tourists from domestic and
international markets with a gradual increase in the number of visitor arrival each year.
Sabah‟s ecotourism is categorized by its natural attraction, wildlife, and wilderness habitats.
This paper sets out to interpret and develop the indicators for success ecotourism sites in
Sabah and measures its‟ development stage. The long-term viability of tourism can be
assured only when the limitations and favorable opportunities of the overall environment for
tourism development are understood and ways to measure changes induced by tourism are
identified and applied. This thesis applied qualitative methods which can help researchers to
understand how and why such behaviors take place. The data were then analyzed to get the
results, which are success indicators of ecotourism sites based on the perception of
stakeholders. There are two set of the indicators are proposed. The indicators are quite
consistent with those others drawn from the literature review. The analysis also shows that
there are issues that need to be addressed with regards to these indicators. These indicators
are output-based; therefore there is a need to establish the measurement or the parameters
of these indicators to make it more quantifiable and more meaningful. Another aspect that
the thesis identified is that the success level of each ecotourism site. Different development
level of the ecotourism sites will use different strategic in their management. In the end of
the thesis, the level of sites development will linked to the Butler‟s Model in determine the
success level of the ecotourism sites. This will contribute to tourism literature by enhancing
the knowledge of ecotourism, and to the ecotourism industry by providing a means of
ecotourism success.
Affiliation:
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
- Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
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