A Study Of Local Community Perception And Attitude On Environmental Impact Of Ecotourism At Kuala Koh National Park (Kknp), Kelantan

Abstract

Local community is one of the important elements within ecotourism development and they play a major role that contributes to positive and negative impacts on conservation of environment. However, some of the local community has low awareness about the environmental impact of ecotourism. Therefore, this study will explore the perception and attitude of local community on environmental impacts of ecotourism activities in Kuala Koh National Park (KKNP). A total of 400 respondents have participated in the survey. The questionnaires were distributed randomly among the local community that lives at the nearby area of KKNP. Descriptive and inferential data analysis were applied in this study. The finding showed that local community perceived ecotourism development at KKNP positively. The results indicate that both perception and attitude of local community are influence by socio-demographic factors like gender, age, and year of residency. Thus, it is important to maintain the good perception and attitude of local community through environmental education and comprehensive policies with viable information. It serves as useful tool in future development plan to minimize the potential negative impact of ecotourism and maximize its benefits.