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

Study on the Development of Hill Stations
Final Report II
CHAPTER 4: BUKIT LARUT
4.3.2 Weaknesses
(a)
Absence Of Development Strategies and Plans
The absence of a statutory land use plan may attract incompatible development
proposals that may threaten the hill station and the surrounding heritage sites,
particularly the lake gardens. The lack of development controls and guidelines may be
detrimental to the natural beauty of the resort through incompatible development
proposals.
This is evident by the proposals submitted in 1997, and approved by the State to
enhance the tourism potentials at Bukit Larut. The proposals included three storey
hotels, look out towers, seminar centre and a 400m suspension bridge, which were later
cancelled due to public objections. In view of this, there is an urgency to prepare a
Special Area Plan for the resort and introduce stringent development controls and
guidelines to protect the natural heritage of the resort.
(b)
Inadequate Promotion for Tourism
At present the major weakness is that this hill resort is not widely promoted and is
relatively unknown especially in foreign origin markets. It has not been widely promoted
even within Malaysia. This is evidenced in visitor arrival data, which shows that in the
year 2000 only 491 foreign tourists visited Bukit Larut.
(c)
Insufficient and Poorly Maintained Tourism Infrastructure
The tourism infrastructure is a further weakness. The bungalows are in need of
upgrading with e.g. better interior decoration, more self-catering facilities and improved
heating. Accessibility needs to be improved and there is a clear need for better
interpretative and informative signage as well as possible safety problems that could
arise from the unstable nature of the slopes.
(d)
Limited Recent Information on Biodiversity
Although information on the biodiversity of Bukit Larut is available, most of this are
derived from old literature and do not reflect the comprehensive range of biodiversity
found here. The floristic knowledge for example can be traced back to as early as the
1870s but the best and only existing comprehensive documentation to date is by Burkill
& Henderson (1925).
Records of more recent information are very scarce. In fact, existing literature indicates
that very little exploration has been undertaken in Bukit Larut during the past 50 years or
so. There are also many aspects of the flora of Bukit Larut that are still unknown
especially of the non-flowering plant groups as past studies have focused mainly on
flowering plants.
WWF Malaysia 4- 15
December 2001