WWFM_Hill Stations Study Vol2_2001.pdf - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

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Study on the Development of Hill Stations Final Report II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 21. Penang Hill offers cool temperatures at the summit, the majestic view of Georgetown and the sea, the ecological attractions of the area including its role as a haven for avian life and a peaceful hill resort ambience. 22. The good tourism infrastructure and supporting services on Penang Island serve as an added advantage to Penang Hill where it also benefits from the active tourist promotion campaigns for Penang Island. 23. The funicular railway is the only one of its kind in Malaysia and therefore represents a unique tourism product to Penang Hill. 24. The existence of nature trails has made trekking a popular activity especially among the more adventurous of the Penang public as well as visitors and tourists. Weaknesses 25. There are three major pockets of unplanned settlement areas located at the base of the hill. These are mostly private land and the pressure for development could lead to undesirable projects that could give a negative visual image to Penang Hill. 26. The abandoned farms, degradation of land and the encroachment of farming to the hill have resulted in environmental degradation and soil erosion. 27. The heritage resources are not fully developed, promoted or showcased. Some of the historic bungalows are not adequately utilised or wellmaintained and public awareness of the heritage of Penang Hill is still limited and needs to be promoted. 28. The lack of tourist attractions and activities is a major reason behind the low visitor numbers in Penang Hill. At present, the only major attraction at Penang Hill is the panoramic view of Georgetown and a large portion of the island. There is inadequate dining facilities, which meant that visitors may not want to be on the hill during mealtimes. This greatly shortens the amount of time spent on the hill. 29. The funicular railway can only accommodate 65 passengers each way, at any one time. This causes problems during peak periods whereby visitors sometimes have to wait up to two hours to ride the funicular railway. Maintenance of the carriages is also poor and there is no back up generator to operate the railway in the case of a power outage. WWF Malaysia E- 3 December 2001
Study on the Development of Hill Stations Final Report II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 30. The facilities available at both the upper and the lower stations are inadequate. There is no proper waiting area for passengers at the upper stations, inadequate toilet facilities and absence of food stalls. During peak periods, the frequent arrivals of public buses, tour buses and cars result in congestion at the lower station due to inadequate parking. 31. There is a lack of detailed information on biodiversity for specific areas as well as information on the variation in the distribution of biodiversity between place to place for Penang Hill. 32. The solid waste in Penang Hill is not well managed. Areas outside the 3.5 km radius from the upper station are not provided with the collection service. Therefore the residents dispose the waste either by open burning or by dumping down the valleys. This causes air and water pollution and is an unpleasant sight to the visitors in Penang Hill. Opportunities 33. The Penang Hill Development Plan has identified developable areas particularly at Telok Bahang, Sungai Pinang West , Sungai Rusa and Sg. Kelian, while the Local Plan allowed development at Strawberry Hill Crag Hotel, Lomond, Richmond, Ban Hin Lee and Edgecumbe, Government Hills, South View, Rajawali areas, Bel Retiro, Convalescent and Fern Hill areas. The Local Plan has also identified the types of development permissible and the development control guidelines to adhere to. 34. There is potential for more commercial activities to be developed. The present commercial area is not well presented and the products offered are not sufficient and varied. 35. The existing nature trails in Penang Hill offer great potential as an attractive tourism product and serves well to complement existing tourism activities in the beach and city on Penang Island. 36. There are good prospects for expanding the usage of the nature trails to facilitate nature education and interpretation. This could include the usage of biodiversity information for enhancing visitors’ experience to Penang Hill besides increasing their awareness of the importance of this hill station. Threats 37. Hill farming on privately owned land has been a threat to the physical environment of the resort. Forest land cleared for farming activities has been the major contributor to soil erosion. WWF Malaysia E- 4 December 2001
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3 GUNUNG JERAI
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5 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
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APPENDIX I REFERENCES
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WWFM_Hill Stations Study Vol2_2001.pdf - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

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