FINAL VERSION FOR APPROVAL - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan
8 Caving at the
Gua Ikan group
of caves
smaller falls. Near Base Camp, a few individuals of the
rare endemic, L. stongensis, are also found.
0.5 Not within GSSP, but is in Dabong, where there are several
caves that the guides take visitors to. Visitors go to the
caves either after disembarking at Dabong, or on the return
from GSSP prior to taking the next train back to
KL/Singapore.
4.3 Visitors
Since 1992, some 50,000 visitors may have been to GSSP, at the average rate of 500 per
month (pers. comm., Odie, 2005). Available, limited records from the BAT register (2002,
2003 and January-March 2005) indicate that 2,301 visited in 2002, 5,371 in 2003, and 1,379
in 2005 (as at March), with 68% males and 32% females in 2002, and 73% males and 27%
females in 2003. Fifty percent of the visitors in 2002 were from Kelantan, 36% were
Malaysians from outside the State, while 14% were foreigners. For 2003, 62% were from
Kelantan, 30% are outside the State, while 8% were foreigners.
In terms of occupation, 71% of the visitors in 2002 were secondary school and university
students, 9% were lecturers, 6% were engineers, 5% were in private enterprises, while 9%
were categorised as in other occupations. For 2003, 73% were secondary school and
university students, 10% were teachers and lecturers, 5% were engineers, 5% were in private
enterprises, while 7% were in other occupations not listed.
In terms of age, for 2002, 45% are in the 21-30 year group, 43% were in the 11-20 year
group, 8% were in the 31-40 year group, while 4% were above 41 years. A similar profile
was obtained for 2003: 47% were in the 11-20 year group, 43% were between 21-30 years,
6% were between 31-40 years, while 4% were beyond 41 years of age.
From the limited information obtained, we can safely draw the conclusion that GSSP is
popular with locals (Kelantan and non-Kelantanese Malaysians). Foreigners formed only 14%
of visitors in 2002, and 8% in 2003. A sizable chunk of those between the 11-20 year group
were secondary school students from Kelantan, while the rest were from institutions of higher
learning. Young adults (11-30 years) comprised the majority of visitors (88% in 2002, 87% in
2003), while those above 31 were in the minority (12% in 2002, 10% in 2003).
The popularity of outdoor recreation in Malaysia probably accounts for the relatively large
number of visitors to GSSP, and this is a favourite activity for young adults. The explosion in
outdoor recreation activities could be attributed to the general improvements in Malaysian
standards of living, with increased leisure time, and the active promotion of outdoor
recreation by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to the youths in the villages, schools, and
university campuses.
Historically, between 1992-1994 there were more foreigners in GSSP, but the number has
declined considerably after the 1997-1998 economic downturn, the Asian Flu Virus and
terrorist scares in 2001 and 2002 (pers. comm., Odie, 2005).
4.3.1 Visitor Preferences
For the time-period between May and October 2005, 102 questionnaires were distributed to
visitors visiting GSSP, to obtain their opinions, and preferences, on types of development, and
facilities. Eighty-nine percent were first-time visitors, 11%, were repeat visitors. Sixty-four
percent (64%) were Malaysians, while 36% were foreigners.
Some of the findings are as follows.
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