Authors : A. Habibah, I. Mushrifah, J. Hamzah, A. Buang and M.E. Toriman
Abstract: Ecotourism in biosphere reserve is highly dependent on the natural capitals and its sustainability does not only set on the local’s responsibility but it is also a commitment of all stakeholders. However in many of the biosphere reserve, contradictory perspectives pertaining to the natural capital sustainability for among respective stakeholders are still understudied, especially in seeking a balance between conservation and ecotourism development. Given this background, this study seeks to assess the stakeholders’ perspectives of natural capitals for sustainable ecotourism in the Tasik Chini biosphere reserve, a pioneering area endorsed in 2009. The findings reveal that while every stakeholder segment has their own positive and negative notions of what natural capitals mean, there exists an agreement that the value of natural capital in tourism is threaten and declining due to rapid encroachment of development projects. This unison of perspective would go a long way to realising the more holistic management of the tourism activities in the area which is the ultimate objective of the biosphere reserve.
A. Habibah, I. Mushrifah, J. Hamzah, A. Buang and M.E. Toriman, 2012. Crafting the Natural Capitals for Sustainability of Ecotourism in Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve: The Host-Guest Perspectives. The Social Sciences, 7: 611-619.