Ecotourism Activities, Homestay Recovery Plan and Strategy Indicators in Post Covid-19 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss strategies and recovery plans for communitybased ecotourism and homestays following the Covid-19 pandemic Movement Control Order (MCO), particularly in Kampung Mesilou, Kundasang, Sabah. The spread of the Covid-19 virus has had a significant impact, particularly on the tourism industry in Malaysia and, more specifically, on the ecotourism sector in the state of Sabah. The implementation of MCO in Malaysia, which aims to restrict population movement, has had a negative impact on the tourism sector, as all of them were ordered to halt operations completely. As a result, the question of the strategies and recovery plans implemented by ecotourism and homestay operators to restore the ecotourism sector, particularly in Kampung Mesilou, arises. Therefore, the main research approach in this study is qualitative and based on primary data. The primary data used were the results of in-field informant interviews, which were supplemented by secondary data from journal articles. The study's findings revealed that after the government announced the relaxation of the MCO, the communities in the area took the initiative to re-promote their ecotourism activities widely through social media, etc. One of the entrepreneurs' strategies for attracting tourists in their shorter and medium plans is the addition of new ecotourism products and the improvement of the quality of homestay facilities recently.

Challenges in Implementation of Community-Based-Tourism and Homestay Post-Covid-19 Movement Control Order (Mco) at Kundasang, Sabah

“…However, various challenges in implementing community-based and homestay travel and tourism strategies need to be resolved immediately. Hussin et al (2022) indicate that a homestay recovery plan and strategy must be explored, especially in the Kundasang area. The community, especially homestay entrepreneurs, must address the challenges to ensure a safe and comfortable tourism environment to attract tourists.…”

Planning Seaweed Farming Based Ecotourism: A Tourism Spectrum Approach in Bantaeng Regency, Indonesia

“…This is why there is an emphasis on collaboration between the community and destination stakeholders (Azwar et al, 2023). Ecotourism is a type of tourism that emphasises the sustainability of nature and its people (Blamey, 2001;Dehoorne & Tatar, 2013;Hein et al, 2018;Hussin et al, 2022;Rukmana, 2015). Motivation and interest in learning about nature drive ecotourism tourists.…”