FINAL VERSION FOR APPROVAL - Sdn Bhd - WWF Malaysia

Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan
has happened to FELDA communities in other parts of the country, and it cannot be denied
that it is happening in the communities surrounding GSSP.
The senior locals may be too set in their ways to change their views, but some of them may
want to be involved in some small hospitality or agro-tourism business, that is within their
capabilities, while the young adults need to be educated on conservation. There is a need to
prepare them for a greater purpose, to capitalise on opportunities that could be created upon
the development and promotion of GSSP. This could be in the form of nature education, and
training in outdoor recreation and small businesses, to wean them away from the trap of drug
abuse and other negative activities.
5.6 Inappropriate Tourism Development
Compared to most other newly-created protected areas, there is already a steady stream of
visitors to GSSP since 1992, and most of them are hikers, who do not mind the discomforts of
the outdoors. They visit GSSP on expeditions organised by their schools, workplaces, or
clubs, or on packages organised by guesthouse operators in Kota Bharu. Unlike affluent
leisure tourists, they are less concerned with standards of accommodation, but look forward to
challenges of hiking to the summits.
However, tourism planning in Malaysia is targeted to the affluent leisure and mass tourism
market; and there is greater emphasis on infrastructural development, that, without adequate
demand, degenerates into white elephants. This happened to the Pulau Jerejak Resort, Pedu
Lake Resort, and closer to home, the KPK Resort (previously Singgahsana Stong Resort, and
previous to that, Perdana Stong Hill Resort).
Due to the differing perceptions and needs of the actual tourists to GSSP compared to the
targeted affluent tourism market, upscale resorts within GSSP may turn into a failure, when
the demand is for simple, basic structures, with minimal upgrading, and affordable
accommodation and meals. Any design and pricing mechanism should take into
consideration existing market needs, rather than on an uncertain market segment that have not
been properly researched. Extensive upgrades and expansion will lead to greater capital and
operating costs, and higher bottom lines, and the operator will be hard-pressed to achieve
break-even point, much less profits.
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