Orang Asli (aboriginal) community participation in the tourism industry - A preliminary survey of Belum-Temenggor

Eco-tourism refers to the commercial tourism that draws focus to landscapes or areas rich in biodiversity and unique natural formations while simultaneously promoting the conservation and protection of these areas. One area selected as an eco-tourism destination in Malaysia is the Royal Belum. In Belum-Temengor, eco-tourism emulates, or attempts to emulate the indigineous tourism of such countries as Australia, New Zealand, USA and some African countries. This preliminary study examined, by means of field observation and analyses of tourist arrival records, the extent to which eco-tourism activities in the Belum-Temengor did practice ethnic tourism and whether this had the potential to grow as a tourism attraction. Findings indicated that there was still much work which needed to be done in order to achieve a balance between the economic and social needs of all stakeholders involved.