Pemeliharaan warisan budaya dan kelestarian alam sekitar: Potensi ekopelancongan di Tasik Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu, Malaysia (Preservation of cultural heritage and environmental sustainability: The ecotourism potential of Tasik Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu, Malaysia)

Abstract

Kajian ini menganalisis tahap kesedaran, penglibatan dan tindakan komuniti tempatan terhadap pemeliharaa warisan budaya dan kelestarian alam sekitar melalui ekopelancongan di Tasik Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu. Walaupun Tasik Kenyir dikenali sebagai destinasi ekopelancongan utama di Terengganu, isu penglibatan komuniti dalam usaha pemuliharaan warisan dan biodiversiti masih kurang diberi perhatian secara emipirikal. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk: (i) mengenal pasti tahap kesedaran masyarakat terhadap warisan budaya dan warisan semula jadi tempatan, (ii) menganalisis hubungan antara kesedaran, penglibatan dan tindakan pemuliharaan, serta (iii) menilai implikasi terhadap Pembangunan ekopelancongan mampan. Pendekatan kuantitatif digunakan melalui soal selidik terhadap 510 responden di sekitar Tasik Kenyir. Data dianalisis menggunakan statistik deskriptif dan inferensi. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa terdapat hubungan positif yang signifikan antara kesedaran dan penglibatan komuniti (p,0.05) dan penglibatan turut memberi kesan signifikan terhadap tindakan pemuliharaan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa walaupun terdapat pengetahuan mengenai budaya tempatan, usaha pemuliharaan yang lebih proaktif diperlukan. Oleh itu, pendekatan ekopelancongan berasaskan komuniti perlu diperkukuhkan sebagai rangka strategi bagi kelestarian warisan di Tasik Kenyir.

Kata kunci: Ekopelancongan, pembangunan mampan, pemuliharaan alam sekitar, penglibatan komuniti, warisan budaya

This study examines the level of awareness, involvement, and actions of the local community toward the preservation of cultural heritage and environmental sustainability through ecotourism at Kenyir Lake, Hulu Terengganu. Although Tasik Kenyir is widely recognized as a major ecotourism destination in Terengganu, empirical attention to community participation in heritage conservation and biodiversity preservation remains limited. This study aims to: (i) identify the level of community awareness regarding local cultural and natural heritage; (ii) analyze the relationship between awareness, involvement and conservation actions; and (iii) assess the implications for sustainable ecotourism development. A quantitative approach through survey to gather data from 510 respondents in the area. Meanwhile, the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between awareness and community involvement (p,0.05) and community involvement also has a significant effect on conservation actions. The findings indicate that while there is some awareness of local culture, more proactive conservation efforts are needed. Therefore, a community-based ecotourism approach is identified as a strategic framework to reinforce heritage sustainability in Tasik Kenyir.

Keywords: Ecotourism, sustainable development, environmental conservation, community involvement, cultural heritage