PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM AT GUNUNG RENG AREA, JELI DISTRICT, KELANTAN, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Gunung Reng area is one of interesting places in the state of Kelantan, Malaysia. It is located in Batu Melintang sub-district, along the East-West Expressway in Jeli district in the northwestern corner of Kelantan. Though the local people designated Gunung Reng as a ‘gunung’ (the Malay word for ‘mount’), it is not a mount in the true definition but it is actually a mogote hill towering above the flat alluvial topography. This study is to discuss the public perception on promoting sustainable ecotourism at this area. This study was carried out by distributing 30 questionnaires to different respondents which consist of local government staff, local communities and visitors (foreign and domestic) to see their perception on the attitude, awareness, and the way to conserve this ecotourism sites.