Kesan Aktiviti Ekopelancongan Dalam Perkembangan Sosioekonomi Komuniti Tempatan

Abstract

Abstrak: Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang adalah kawasan ekopelancongan kelip-kelip yang mendapat perhatian daripada pengunjung-pengunjung luar mahupun tempatan. Kawasan ekopelancongan memerlukan sokongan dan penyertaan daripada komuniti tempatan bagi memangkin perkembangan sosial dan ekonomi setempat. Kajian ini mengkaji kesan aktiviti ekopelancongan terhadap pembangunan sosioekonomi komuniti tempatan di Nibong Tebal. Dalam hal ini, penglibatan masyarakat dalam aktiviti ekopelancongan dan kesan penglibatan komuniti setempat dalam aktiviti ekopelancongan dikenal pasti serta dikaji. Sebanyak 150 borang soal selidik telah digunakan sebagai kaedah penyelidikan kuantitatif. Selain itu, kaedah temu bual secara mendalam turut dilakukan sebagai kaedah kualitatif kajian. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa penglibatan komuniti terhadap aktiviti ekopelancongan didorong oleh pelbagai faktor yang dapat meningkatkan perkembangan sosial dan ekonomi. Aktiviti ekopelancongan memberi banyak kebaikan kepada komuniti tempatan seperti membuka peluang pekerjaan, peluang perniagaan dan manfaat bagi meraih pendapatan sampingan. Kefahaman terhadap manfaat yang boleh diperolehi ini menjadi faktor pendorong kepada komuniti untuk terlibat dengan aktiviti ini secara kolektif. Kajian ini juga dapat menambahbaik sistem pengurusan ekopelancongan sedia ada dengan melihat kepada aspek tahap pengetahuan pengurusan, keperluan agensi lain dalam membantu merancakkan aktiviti ekopelancongan dan memperbaiki kemudahan awam yang masih berada di tahap rendah. Justeru, dicadangkan agar semua pihak berkepentingan bersatu dalam meningkatkan kerjasama komuniti tempatan di samping mempelbagaikan aktiviti ekopelancongan sedia ada bagi menarik lebih ramai pengunjung untuk datang ke kawasan ini.

Kata kunci: Ekopelancongan; Kelip-kelip; sosioekonomi; komuniti tempatan; sistem pengurusan ekopelancongan

Abstract: Nibong Tebal, Penang is a firefly ecotourism area that has attracted attention from both foreign and local visitors. Ecotourism areas require support and participation from local communities to catalyse their social and economic developments. This study examines the impact of ecotourism activities on the socioeconomic development of the local community in Nibong Tebal. In this regard, community involvement in ecotourism activities and the impact of local community involvement in ecotourism activities are identified and studied. A total of 150 questionnaires was used as a quantitative research method. In addition, an in-depth interview method was also conducted as a qualitative research method. The results of this study show that community involvement in ecotourism activities is driven by various factors that can improve both social and economic developments. Ecotourism activities bring many benefits to the local community such as opening up job opportunities, business avenues and benefits for them to earn some side income. Understanding the benefits that can be obtained is a motivating factor for the community to get involved in this activity. Through this study, it is also possible to improve the existing ecotourism management system by looking at aspects of the level of management knowledge, the needs of other agencies in helping to boost ecotourism activities and improving public facilities that are still below par. Therefore, it is suggested that all stakeholders unite to increase local community cooperation in addition to diversifying the existing ecotourism activities to attract more visitors to this area.

Keywords: Ecotourism; Fireflies; socioeconomic; local communities; ecotourism management system

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