Retaining Access to Key Tourist Assets for Local Residents: A Case of Mount Kinabalu

¹ Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 88997 Sabah, Malaysia
² Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 94300 Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

Tourism development can occur to the detriment of real or perceived access to major tourist destinations by local residents. They can find access changed due to privatization of assets or imposition of restrictions on the permissible uses. Drawing upon this subset of tourism impact on the host community, this study analyzes the access by local residents to Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Specifically, it examines the retention of access to the mountain for local Sabahans. Interviews with park management were conducted and questionnaires were distributed to local residents. The results show that the number of Sabahan climbers has always been significantly lower than other Malaysian and foreign climbers, despite the introduction of the Sabahan rate. Additionally, the actual number of Sabahan climbers is lower than the allocated quota potential. The paper proposes several recommendations that the park management can consider to ensure local Sabahans will have a fair and equal access to Mount Kinabalu.