After several years of rapid growth in developing countries, the financial meltdown has ushered in dramatic shifts in the economic landscape with direct implications for tourism sector, Tourism is facing a decline stage due to the global economic crisis, and many countries change their market strategies, one of the country in Southeast Asia is Malaysia (Langkawi Island).
Langkawi island is one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia. It is also geologically a very old island rich in terrestrial and marine biodiversity, with pristine forests and seas. It is also settled by local communities of farmers, fishermen and other rural inhabitants who rely on the island’s natural resources for a livelihood.
Government of Malaysia has planned Langkawi Island as a Geopark and before declaring as a geopark, Langkawi has been a tourism islands for many years. It has all the necessary infrastructure and utilities to support any future development for sustainable tourism. And Langkawi Island also well-known with international events, such as de Langkawi Tour (Bike Racing) , aerospace competition and also as free trade zone.
According to UNESCO, A geopark is a geological heritages scenic spot of special geoscientific significance, rare natural attribute and aesthetically ornamental value and with given scale and distribution scope, which integrates other natural scenes and sights and that of cultural interest into a unique natural area. It is not only a site for travel and sightseeing, vacationing and health recuperation as well as cultural recreation at a relatively high scientific level, but also a key protected area of geological heritages and base for geoscientific research and popularization.
And according Wikipedia Heritage refers to something which is inherited from one’s ancestors. It has several different senses, including Natural heritage, a nation’s fauna and flora, natural resources, and landscape
Langkawi Island as one of the well known tourist destinations based the abundant natural resources, its needs a lot of support from research and development (R & D) to sustain its tourism industry. For this reason, Government of Malaysia has cooperated with the university focuses on multidisciplinary researches, spearheading the goal of approaching sustainable development of ecotourism in Langkawi. Results of the researches purpose to UNESCO that Langkawi Geopark is the first geopark established in Malaysia and is one of the rare island geoparks in the world comprising 99 islands.
Langkawi Geopark possesses one of the most beautiful tropical island karst landscapes in the Southeast Asian region. This scenic beauty blended with its rich biodiversity has been Langkawi’s main tourist attraction. Knowledge on the origin of the limestone karst and the beauty of the landscape are the greatest assets to Langkawi Geopark to be shared with the rest of the world.
Langkawi Island has a high potential for conservation of biodiversity and geodiversity. Geoforest park highlights the geological components within the park area and emphasize on the balanced protection of geological and biological heritage. and geoforest park also promote the area for education and recreation purposes and also promotion of ecotourism.
Other significant threats to the geopark are threats to the sensitive nature of forests and biodiversity. If the natural heritage of Langkawi is not protected, the ecosystem’s health as a biological hot spot will also be affected. For example, if the forest is not healthy, freshwater lakes such as Dayang Bunting (one of 99 islands) will not be healthy. A unhealthy lake will destroy its attraction as a destination. Furthermore, fisheries will be negatively affected. A polluted lake will destroy biodiversity and fishery.
Langkawi Geopark is Malaysia’s first geopark and is located in the far northwestern corner of peninsular Malaysia. Located in northern State of Kedah, it is unique in the sense that it was formed on 99 islands that together made up the legendary Langkawi Archipelago, The total land area of Langkawi Geopark is about 478km2.
Conclusion
recently Malaysia success to establish Langkawi as new natural heritage to upgrade economic asset in developing new markets and create an economic environment where local communities will get real benefits and be encouraged to protect their quality environment.
Langkawi geopark, can be a special destination in Malaysia to challenge and attract special tourist with special purpose.
Refferent :
1. Weng Chan, Ngai, 2008, Protecting And Conserving Our Natural Heritage: Potentials, Threats And Challenges Of Langkawi Geopark, Malaysia
2. G.J. Ashworth, 2008, Causes, Causes and Consequences of Transition from Blue to Grey Tourism.
3. G.J. Ashworth, 2004, The blue – grey transition: heritage in the reinvention of the tourism resort.
4. Amano, Kazuo, 2009, The East Asia Geopark Vision –Economic Development of Regional Communities and the Role of Universities-Case of Ibaraki-Universiti.
5. Norhayatiahmad, 2007 accessed on http://norhayatiahmad-herpetologist.blogspot.com/2007/02/langkawi-geopark.html
Malaysian are really proud of Langkawi Island which is probably the most popular in the country.
The information here about Langkawi island that you state here is really useful for those who want to go the island especially for the first timer.
lots of beautiful sceneries as the island still retains most of its natural rain forests thus giving the visitors the chance to enjoy the nature, hope malaysians will maintain the cleanliness of that beautiful Island.