Assessment of attractions, visitation and local community participation in community-based ecotourism at Marudu Bay, Sabah

The mangrove ecosystem in Marudu Bay provides a vast potential for ecotourism development to benefit the local people in the northern part of Borneo. As the least developed district in the Sabah state, promotion of community-based ecotourism would be able to create employment opportunity to improve their standard of living and local economy. Its success could be achieved through support and participation of local people besides protecting local culture and the ecosystem. The objective of this study was to assess the perception of locals and non-local respondents on the potential of a community-based ecotourism in Marudu Bay. A social survey was administered to 346 respondents both locals and non-locals by showing a pamphlet of mangroves along the coast. The richness of its natural and cultural resources as potential attractions was shown to be of good quality. Regardless, only a few non-local respondents had prior knowledge (11.1%) about the ecotourism attractions of Kota Marudu and its coastal mangroves. Local residents (83.3%) were willing to participate in ecotourism business activities. The non-locals stated that they would like to visit this coastal site and would like to indulge in ecotourism activities such as visiting the mangrove environment, river and bay cruises, recreational fishing and cultural events. Many were also willing to stay overnight for at least two days in a rural setting and homestay. The non-residents (25.4%) claimed that lack of promotion and non-available tour packages were the main reasons that discouraged tourism to Marudu Bay and its vicinity. Hence, it is essential that in any ecotourism development, besides ensuring environment health, local community and cultural values must be protected