Kemandirian industri eko-pelancongan : Kes tarikan pelancong kelip-kelip Kg. Kuantan (The survival of an eco-tourism industry: Evidence from the Kg. Kuantan ’s firefly tourist attraction)

Abstract

Kajian mengenai kemandirian (survival) industri eko-pelancongan kelip-kelip telah dijalankan di Kg.Kuantan, Kuala Selangor, Selangor. Kajian ini tertumpu pada impak sosio-ekonomi yang diperolehi oleh pengusaha bot dan penduduk Kg. Kuantan serta kawasan sekitarnya. Sejumlah 30 pengusaha bot dan 80 responden terlibat dalam kajian ini. Hasilnya menunjukkan walaupun berlaku peningkatan pendapatan namun peningkatan tersebut adalah kecil, iaitu sekitar 3.5% sahaja. Meskipun begitu industri eko-pelancongan kelip-kelip di Kg. Kuantan dijangka akan terus mandiri memandangkan terdapat petunjuk yang membuktikan kelangsungannya. Petunjuk pertama bilangan pengunjung yang masih bertahan manakala petunjuk kedua adalah kewujudan dan kelangsungan habitat kelip-kelip itu sendiri. Di samping itu pelbagai usaha pihak tertentu seperti pihak MDKS yang berterusan mempromosikan Kg. Kuantan sebagai destinasi pelancongan antarabangsa pasti akan menarik minat lebih ramai pelawat berkunjung ke sini. Kesimpulannya, peningkatan bilangan pengunjung dan habitat kelip-kelip yang masih ada sekarang menjamin status kemandirian industri eko-pelancongan ini di Kg. Kuantan.

Katakunci: bakau-berembang, eko-pelancongan, kelestarian habitat, kelip-kelip, impak sosio-ekonomi.

The survival of an ecotourism product depends on the sustainability of both the ecological resource and the tourist inflow. Development activities such as construction of infrastructures are liable to threaten the dynamics of the two variables. This paper examines the impact of a dam construction on the survival of the firefly eco-tourism industry in Kuala Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. A field study was conducted focusing on the socio-economic impact of the Selangor river dam construction on the boat operators and the local community of Kg. Kuantan. A total of 30 boat operators and 80 respondents were involved in the study. The results showed that the operators’ incomes had increased. Although the increase was small at around 3.5% only the survival of the firefly ecotourism nevertheless seemed assured for two main reasons. One, the sustainable number of tourists to the firefly sites, and the other, the endurance of the firefly habitat. Moreover, there were the continued campaigns on the part of the local district authority to promote the Kg. Kuantan firefly as a ‘must see’ tourist destination. In conclusion, this firefly study confirms the hypothesis that the sustainability of both the ecological resource and the tourist inflow determines the survival of an ecotourism project.

Keywords: berembang-mangrove, eco-tourism, firefly, socio-economic impact, sustainable habitat