HIGHLANDS TOURISM IN SABAH:
A RESEARCH CASE IN KINABALU PARK



ABSTRACT


This research was carried out to look at the special features of Kinabalu Park as highland tourist destination, the facilities provided, the qualities and to get the feedback from the tourists regarding Kinabalu Park as tourist destination. Besides that, this research is also done to survey the tourists activities who visited the Kinabalu Park based on their personal profile and characteristics. The tourists profile and characteristics which were studied are age, sex, accupation, income and place of origin. The result of the research showed that most of the tourists at Kinabalu Park prefer to walk as see the fascinating natures in these parks. Beside that, another activities such as photograph, jungle trekking and uphill also can be done at Kinabalu Park. However, the tourist are satisfied with the quality of the facilities provided even though there are still a small numbers of them is not satisfied with the environmental damage because of the infrastructure development which operate in this park. The facilities development in this park should be done by more organised and preferred natural environment retention to make sure the uniqueness of environment in this park still natural and not threatened. It is very important to keep this park still remains as premier highland resort in this region, further rank highly this park in international tourism field.