KUCHING: The biotourism concept should be adopted in developing ecotourism products in the Padawan-Bau-Serian-Lundu (PBSL) area to ensure economic sustainability while maintaining low environmental and social impact.
Assoc Prof Dr Margaret Chan Kit Yok of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) who heads the five-year tourism development master plan study on behalf of the PBSL Joint Tourism Committee, said biotourism could address some of the operational shortcomings of ecotourism.
The focus of biotourism would shift towards a broader appreciation of the natural and human sphere, with more attention on the community while developing the cultural and natural dimensions of a tourist destination.
“This allows visitors to learn about the legends, natural and cultural history of the places and its community. Benefiting the local economy, this will become an incentive for the community to be involved in preservation,” the lecturer attached with the Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology told The Borneo Post in an interview yesterday.
PBSL joint committee (consisting of Padawan Municipal Council, Bau, Samarahan and Lundu district councils) appointed UiTM Samarahan campus to carry out a resource inventory on tourism products and questionnaires to survey community attitude to tourism. This includes preparing the terms of reference (TOR) and budget for the 5-year tourism master plan.
Chan said the university had completed and submitted its final draft of the Resource Inventory Report and outcomes of the Residents’ Attitude Survey last month.
UiTM created a website, interactive e-book and coffee book (not within the scope of the initial task) which are awaiting endorsement from the PBSL committee.
“The conclusion of the residents’ attitude survey revealed two main worries: environmental issues and social impact.
“The community, although recognising tourism as an industry that can generate good income, still consider agriculture as their main economic revenue. The people are of the perception that tourist activities are not sufficient nor vibrant enough to sustain their livelihood,” she explained.
On a brighter note, the survey revealed that positive feedback outweighed negative impacts, such as expectations of job opportunities and better facilities.
To enhance tourism in the PBSL area, UiTM’s study recommended that flagship tourism products, including annual sporting events, cultural and heritage celebrations, be promoted and developed to international standards.
The development of these products needs a strong supporting system to ensure sustainability. Chan mentioned the need to develop infrastructure to improve accessibility to the products, localities and infrastructure built surrounding natural resources.
In addition, safety and health measures must be improved, apart from strengthening human resource, marketing, networking and promotion. Tour packages can focus on geogarden tour, water-based and ecosystem-based destinations.
“The study revealed that local and foreign visitors often highlight safety issues and accessibility to tourism products. In terms of accommodation, we have to look at international health and hospitality standards. And infrastructure and facilities need to meet international standards,” Chan said.
Biotourism is the brainchild of Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg during his first stint as Tourism Minister. The term was coined in 2003 during the first international biotourism conference held in Miri.
