This study examines the implications of ecotourism on the local community and natural environment in Jeli, Kelantan, focusing on socio-economic and environmental aspects. A quantitative approach was employed through a structured questionnaire involving 308 visitors at four major ecotourism sites. Data were analyzed using SPSS, including descriptive statistics and inferential analyses such as Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Findings indicate that 68% of respondents agreed that ecotourism provides economic benefits, particularly in employment and small businesses, but only 45% stated that profits are distributed fairly. Socially, 60% agreed that ecotourism enhances cultural awareness, while 40% believed it leads to negative lifestyle changes. Environmentally, 72% reported increased pollution, with Pearson correlation showing a significant relationship between tourist influx and pollution (r = 0.73, p < 0.05). The study suggests strategic measures for sustainable ecotourism, including more effective environmental management, inclusive tourism policies, and greater community participation in relevant policymaking. These findings can assist policymakers in formulating more sustainable ecotourism development strategies in Malaysia.
Anas, R., Hussin, R., & Afrizal, T. (2018). Penyertaan komuniti dalam program pemulihan pelancongan pasca bencana di Kampung Mesilou Kundasang, Sabah. Geografia, 14(3), 116-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/geo-2018-1403-09.
Bernama. (2020). Sektor pelancongan sumbang RM86.14 bilion kepada ekonomi Malaysia pada 2019. Astro Awani. Retrieved from https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/sektor-pelancongan-sumbang-rm8614-bilion-kepada-ekonomi-malaysia-pada-2019-237781.
Choy, E. A., & Lazim, N. B. M. (2013). Tahap kefahaman ekopelancongan dalam kalangan komuniti lokal di Lata Jarum, Raub, Pahang. Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 8(2), 27-34.
Chua, Y. P. (2006). Kaedah dan statistik penyelidikan: Kaedah penyelidikan. McGraw-Hill Education.
El Moslem Badr, D. M. (2022). Challenges and Future of the development of sustainable ecotourism. International Journal of Modern Agriculture and Environment, 2(2), 54-72. https://doi.org/10.21608/ijmae.2023.214937.1006
Eshun, G., & Tonto, J. N. P. (2014). Community-based ecotourism: Its socio-economic impacts at Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana. Bulletin of Geography. Socio-Economic Series, 26, 67-81. https://doi.org/10.1515/bog-2014-0045.
Fink, A. (1995). The survey handbook. SAGE Publications.
Fortune Business Insights. (2025, March 31). Ecotourism market size, share & industry analysis, by type (nature & wildlife tourism, agro-tourism, and others), by traveler type (solo and group), by booking mode (travel agents and direct), by age group (Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z), and regional forecast, 2024–2032. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/ecotourism-market-108700
Grand View Research. (2024). Asia Pacific ecotourism market size & outlook, 2023–2030. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/ecotourism-market/asia-pacific
Hassan, M. S. (2013). Pembangunan dan pengurusan eko-pelancongan di Taman Negara: Kes Taman Negara, Kuala Tahan, Pahang (Master’s thesis). Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Retrieved from https://ptsldigital.ukm.my/handle/123456789/498008.
James, J., & Hussin, R. (2021). Impak aktiviti pelancongan ke atas komuniti setempat: Tinjauan literatur. Journal of Borneo Social Transformation Studies, 7(1), 211-224.
Jemali, N. J. N., & Syafinie, K. (2022). Program hargai sungai dan sumber alam di kawasan ekopelancongan Lata Janggut, Jeli, Kelantan. Buletin FSB (Edisi Jan-Jun 2022), 65. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3760.
Kementerian Ekonomi Malaysia. (2022). Inovasi Malaysia 2022. Retrieved from https://ekonomi.gov.my/sites/default/files/2022-09/Inovasi%20Malaysia%202022_2.pdf.
Mahadzir, N., Aminludin, N. A., & Ayub, M. (2020). Penglibatan masyarakat setempat dalam industri ekopelancongan di Daerah Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. In Proceeding International Multidisciplinary Conference (IMC 2020) (pp. 558-566). Universiti Malaysia Perlis.
Manohar, M., Lim, E. L. A., Bidin, S., Zawawi, A., Zainal Abidin, Z. A., & Jumaat, N. J. (2020). Ecotourism in Malaysia: Current scenario. Universiti Putra Malaysia. https://forenv.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/20200904104709ECOTOURISM_IN_MALAYSIA_CURRENT_SCENARIO.pdf
McCullough, B. D. (2012). A review of Introduction to Probability with Texas Hold’Em Examples by Frederic Paik Schoenberg. The American Statistician, 66(3), 201-202.
Muhamad, M. (2018). Hutan 130 tahun di Kelantan berpotensi jadi lokasi eko-pelancongan. Astro Awani. Retrieved from https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/hutan-130-tahun-di-kelantan-berpotensi-jadi-lokasi-ekopelancongan-193128.
Neto, F. (2002). Sustainable tourism, environmental protection and natural resources management: Paradise on earth? In Proceedings of the International Colloquium on Regional Governance and Waste Management Challenges in Sustainable in Tourism-driven Economies (pp. 104). Cancun, Mexico.
Ponto, J. (2015). Understanding and evaluating survey research. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology, 6(2), 168–171.
Sidi, M. A. M., Aman, M. S., Radzi, W. M., & Sulaiman, M. S. (2018). Persepsi penggiat rekreasi terhadap aktiviti rekreasi luar yang menjadi keutamaan di Gunung Ledang, Taman Negara Johor. ATTARBAWIY: Malaysian Online Journal of Education, 2(1), 1-9.
Sieng, L. W., & Kamarudin, N. S. (2021). Faktor ketidakseimbangan pembangunan antara negeri di Malaysia. The Malaysian Journal of Social Administration, 15, 1-23.
Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri (UPEN) Kelantan. (2019). Laporan Ekonomi Negeri Kelantan Darul Naim 2016/2017. Retrieved from https://www.kelantan.gov.my/images/Penerbitan/LaporanEkonomiNegeriKelantanTahun2016-2017.pdf.
Aziz, M. F. B. A., Bakar, M. A. B. A., & Rahman, A. B. A. (2025). Implications of Ecotourism Activities on the Local Community and Natural Environment in Jeli, Kelantan. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(4), 1520–1534.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
