From duty free island to geopark: enhancing local participation in Langkawi Geopark, Malaysia

Abstract

Although the impact of tourism has been highly variable, countries in developing world continue to turn to tourism as a means of contributing to regional, national, and local development. The question now, is tourism really contributing to sustainable development particularly in enhancing local participation and livelihoods? For tourism development, local participation is one of the main elements needed to ensure sustainable livelihoods. This could be achieved through the engagement of local communities in socio-economic and planning activities, hence, instill sense of belonging to protect and conserve their local resources. Conventional ways to develop tourism have been criticized particularly in its efficacy to improve local socio-economic development. Therefore an innovative development concept known as Geopark, under the auspicious of UNESCO, has been promoted as a sustainable development strategy for conservation of geoheritage resources, development of tourism infrastructure, while at the same time contributing to the socioeconomic development of local communities and providing quality knowledge- based tourism experiences. Langkawi Island is the first geopark in Southeast Asia to be awarded as one of UNESCOS Global Geopark Network in 2007. Since then, rigorous initiatives have been taken to ensure components of geopark are being carried out effectively. Focusing on third component of geopark, enhancing socio-economic development of locals, this study aims to identify locals understanding of Geopark concept - based on their knowledge and everyday livelihood activities. Preliminary finding indicates level of understanding is influenced by their level of engagement in existing geopark activities. Innovative socio-economic activities are suggested based on local's capability and capacity to enhance geopark as a tool to generate benefits and thus contribute to island sustainability more generally.