ECOTOURISM AT PENANG HILL BIOSPHERE RESERVE: A VIEW FROM NGOS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY

Ecotourism and Biosphere Reserves are closely connected based on their contribution to environmental conservation, sustainable development, and community involvement. Ecotourism at Penang Hill Biosphere Reserves (PHBRs) is a new branding of tourism attraction. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as the third biosphere site in Malaysia in September 2021. PHBR consist of three main tourism destinations that are Penang Hill, Penang Botanic Garden and Penang National Park. These destinations are currently managed by their own destination managers while currently constituted under the umbrella of PHBR. This paper explores the view of the local community and non-profit organisations (NGOs) on their existing roles, activities and challenges and proposes strategies for the PHBR. The findings indicate that these two parties play an active role in promoting the conservation and sustainability of PHBR. There are local communities that are voluntarily active in NGOs where the main focus was in environmental conservation. They raised their concern about the lack of awareness of the PHBR acknowledgement among various stakeholders. As a recognised biosphere site, they proposed a few strategies from the management of PHBR and other related stakeholders on branding and promotion, creating awareness and monitoring illegal and unsustainable activities at PHBR. The present study carries a strong message on to the governance of PHBR to plan, manage and monitor activities within the PHBR to sustain PHBR as a worldwide popular biosphere site.