Introduction As Malaysians, what can you do as an individual do to protect and preserve the uniqueness of the environment and its biodiversity from the uncontrolled threats that comes along with ecotourism? Did you know that because of the exposed threats that ecotourism brings along, Penang Island now has its environment degraded. No one would want to see that being done to other beautiful sites like the Meromictic Lake in Pantai Kerachut, Royal Belum State Park in Perak or Cameron Highlands in Pahang might soon be degraded just like the beautiful island of Penang if the threats are not taken into consideration. Ecotourism is a prospective issue in social, environmental and economic levels of the government’s agendas. The term ecotourism came …show more content…
Malaysia is a country with rich and diverse culture and heritage where many races live a harmonious life. It is imperative that an effort to preserve culture and heritage objects should be carried out or Malaysia risks of losing her cultural and heritage diversity due to modernization and adoption of foreign cultures and values (Bhuiyan, 2012). For the development of good socio-economic cultural resources are pushed into tourism business. Cultural resources can be anything like living history attributes like customs and folk fore, traditional values and belief and common heritage. Physical or "tangible cultural heritage" includes buildings and historic places, monuments, artifacts, etc. and Intangible cultural heritage like folklores, performances and religious rites and is considered by local communities to be worthy of preservation for the …show more content…
In addition, zones can be used to separate different incompatible uses and to minimize user conflicts, such as with local fisher people. Site planning and design in zones that allow construction should be carefully assessed to minimize environmental disturbances such as probably shoreline erosion. Zoning is a mechanism for assigning overall management objectives and priorities to different areas (zones) within the site or protected area (Som 2011). By assigning objectives and priorities to these zones, planners are also defining what uses will and will not be allowed. These parameters are usually based upon the characteristics of the natural and cultural resource base, the protected area objectives and political
This aspect is “The Double-edged Sword of Ecotourism.” In this chapter, Stanford expresses the positives and negatives of ecotourism. Ecotourism is a form of tourism which involves visiting fragile and undisturbed natural areas and in this case, the main reason is to see gorillas. Ecotourism has its good and bad. It is good because those poor communities that live close to the habitats of the apes can have a source of revenue. Those areas are really poor, and with ecotourism, they can earn about $9000 dollars a month. However, those areas may not exactly be the safest. Stanford cites a 1999 cross border attack by rebel groups in Rwanda in which 8 ecotourists were murdered and this attack deterred tourist from going there for many months. Another negative aspect of ecotourism is how it affects the apes. Although, many apes who do live in these areas of habituation and have tourists coming in and out, the apes develop really high stress levels. When humans move too quickly or make loud noises, the apes are stressed out and can flee. Not only that, but increased stress levels lowers their immune systems making them more susceptible to disease. Stanford ends this chapter saying that ecotourism is bound to happen if the countries are too poor to provide for their people and that “the apes will have to live with the results” (190). In
The idea that led to Ecotourism emerged in the late sixties when people like Oswaldo Muñoz, now president of the Ecuadorian Ecotourism Association, started guiding tourists around their countries to view natural wonders. Many companies began to set up lodging near parks and reserves and even began to develop tours of those areas. The vision of showing off exotic plants, animals and the overall natural beauty of countries like Ecuador also attracted them. Yet early on, this did little to help the local economies. It actually contributed to other problems: In Ecuador, half of the country's rain forest disappeared, and environmental groups and other organizations promoting ecotourism flocked to places where endangered species, including many indigenous populations, lived. But with the growing environmental awareness of the seventies and the realization that large resorts like Acapulco and Cancun were devastating to the environment, both governmental and non-governmental organizations began to look for ways to both protect the environment and stimulate local economies. Thus ecotourism was born.
Neth, B., 2008. Ecotourism as a Tool for Sustainable Rural Community Development and Natural Resources Management in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Researve. Kassel: Kassel University Press GmbH,
...tors at play in different zones. In spite of this it can agreed that the dynamics in ecotourism are more complex than simply creating an industry of both profit and conservancy. For instance the Osa peninsula, presses on the power structure as a result of the construct, drawing parallels between communities and the policies that directly affect them. As this paper demonstrates, there is a need to a more holistic analysis on the effects of ecotourism in countries, such as Costa Rica, thereby not limiting the narrative of ecotourism across the globe to submissive communities and aggressive businesses. Creating a sustainable difference between ecotourism and community-based ecotourism will probe to create effective change in various destinations. Further, ideally the notion of community-based ecotourism might pose an example for significant change within Costa Rica.
Having a sense of belonging is one of several fundamental human needs and national identity refers to a person’s sense of belonging to one country with its history, values and traditions. Since achieving independence in 1957, the issue of Malaysia’s national identity has been in the spotlight due to its strong social, political and economical factors implication. As a multi-cultural country, the search for a national identity is not an easy undertaking as Malaysians consist of different ethnics such as Malay, Chinese and Indian. Each ethnic group contributes their own unique culture and religion, hence making it difficult to form a Malaysian identity. In fact, in September 2010, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the 1 Malaysia concept. This concept acts as a call-for-action for the government leaders and bodies to place a greater emphasis on national unity and ethnic tolerance. This demonstrates that even at present day, Malaysia’s national identity remains unsettled. Architecture plays an important role in achieving national identity and this essay aims to discuss the significant events that transpire throughout the history of the country that contributed in shaping and altering Malaysian vernacular architecture as well as to examine why Malaysia’s national identity still remains unsettled.
There is arising of concern for the need of conservation and the well-being of our environment is now firmly in the vision of the public. A corresponding upsurge in tourism all over the world leading to the phenomenon is happening and referred as ‘mass tourism’ (Krippendorf, 1987). In conjunction with this unparalleled growth of mass tourism as a user of the mother of nature, concern has been shown over the relationship of the natural environment with tourist activities (Hunter & Green, 1995). Therefore, ecotourism is emerging as one of the rapid growing tourism industry in this era.
The over 3 centuries of colonial rule in Malaysia is still evident today by the presence of the unique colonial architectural styles left behind by colonial powers of British, Dutch, and the Portuguese. These unique heritage buildings can be seen in all major cities and were fundamental to the establishment of heritage cities in the country. Cities like George Town, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Malacca and Taiping have many historical buildings built during the colonial era (1511 - 1957) with different architectural styles and influences. To date, the heritage buildings in these cities have become one of the urban identities for these cities (Ismail et al, 2006). Common examples of these buildings include railway stations, mosques, prisons, schools, palaces, traditional Malay houses, Indian temple...
Areas of special interest are protected areas. Major categories of areas of special interest are biological and geological. Biological areas are selected for various groups of living things such as birds or reptiles. Conservation of such areas aims to perpetuate both the natural and artificial processes that resulted in the development and survival of these areas. Geological areas consist significant geological features such as strata with insect or plant fossil. The designation of these areas helps in their protection and conservation.
Today’s global competition, demands a country to keep the true identity., culture becomes the basic aspects that must be maintained, because of the existence of culture effects how closely humans in general act, and be friendly. Cultural or often we refer to as the culture has its own uniqueness, while others interest by the culture then this could make the place tourism.
For example, Chinatown at Kuala Lumpur is one of the most visited tourist spot due to its local heritage and unique character. However, the economic growth in Malaysia is getting better year by year and problem of commercialisation is overriding the heritage elements in Chinatown. The number of pre-war shophouses reducing, the sign of deterioration by lack of maintenance, replacement by new tall buildings. There is a need to revisiting users’ devaluation of pre-war shophouses in Chinatown. It is not merely a famous tourist spot but also having its historical and heritage values, especially the facades elements. These facades referred as tangible heritage element which has formed the uniqueness to the city of Kuala Lumpur. If there has no protection carry out towards these old shophouse it will diminished
Culture is the mankind’s way of life. History and culture plays a vital role in the national development process in the country.(Vale,1992) Malaysia formed as a multi-racial country which Malays, Chinese and Indian are the three main ethnic groups. Hence of the different groups practicing on their own different religion and living culture, Malaysian community is very unique. As a multiethnic country, the development of national culture identity obliges a more careful and sensitive planning in cultivating the Malaysian’s culture. These planning must summarize the virtuous and noble values in strengthening the multi races in Malaysia.
One of the most compelling problems we face today is the degradation of the Environment. Though nature does contribute to the degradation of the environment through natural disasters and wildfires, the most apparent and controllable contribution of harmful acts to the environment are humans. Some factors that cause this degradation are overpopulation, pollution, deforestation, human interference, and government corruption, landfills and land disturbance. These then go on to affect loss of biodiversity, impact on human health, ozone layer depletion and of course loss of tourism industry.
International Cultural Tourism Charter: Managing Tourism at Places of Heritage Significance, ICOMOS, viewed 3 May 2014, http://www.icomos.org/tourism/charter.html
The uncontrolled tourism increase is threatening many natural areas around the world.with the uncontrollable levels of tourism this can put great deal of pressure on an area, andthis could end up leading to negative environmental impacts on the air and the water quality, thevegetation,the soil.the wild life and the possible job opportunities.
Cultural heritage affects the development of urban, even the transportation planning, housing planning and the whole city planning etc. It causes the urban become urbanization. Besides, the government arranges many routes to pass through each cultural heritage in Macau. These policies make many visitors visit the cultural heritages which can effectively make visitors realize the changing of history and culture. Moreover, the government also combines the gambling