Primary data collection

A tourist questionnaire survey was carried out to investigate the level of visitor satisfaction with tourism facilities and activities, especially the mountain and nature guiding services, and the willingness to pay more in Kinabalu Park. The level of satisfaction was determined using the Likert Scale (Eraqi 2006).

Based on the stratified random sampling approach (Yamane 1967), the sample size was determined as follows:

n = N/[1+N (e²)]

where n = sample size, N = population size, e = error of estimation; confidence level is at 95% and error margin at 5%.

A total of 402 questionnaires were completed in the survey. Each 8-page questionnaire (Appendix 2.1) took about 15 minutes to complete. A pre-test, which counted for 5% of the sample size, was carried out prior to the actual survey. Five remunerators were trained to carry out the survey. Visitors were approached randomly at the strategic points within the park such as visitor center, restaurants, reception centers and hostels. At Park HQ and Mesilau Nature Resort, respondents were approached at the visitor center, hostel areas and restaurants. At Poring Hot Spring, respondents were approached at the food stalls located outside the park, hot suphur bath tubs and picnic areas, visitor center, restaurant and sitting areas.

Taking into consideration the importance of Kinabalu Park as a popular visitor destination for foreign visitors and the significance of mountain climbing in the park, stratifications were made based on the proportionate statistic of foreign visitors and climbers. The respondents were approached in two ways depending on their preference.

Respondents were either interviewed by the remunerators or they filled out the questionnaire while the remunerator provided them with clarification if necessary. Then the remunerator asked the respondents to explain their comments and additional notes were made. In order to avoid similar opinions given by members of one group, only one respondent was selected from each group of visitors. A ‘group’ here refers to couples, families, and friends walking together. Tour groups were excluded. Most of the respondents were approached in the afternoon and evening so that they could give their opinion after having participated in the activities in Kinabalu Park. The questionnaires were bilingual, i.e., Malay and English.

Local communities questionnaire survey

A questionnaire survey was carried out to obtain feedback from the people who were working in Kinabalu Park regarding the job opportunities and capacity building opportunities offered to them. The respondents included a total of 153 mountain guides, 42 porters and 52 staff members of SSL. All questionnaires were prepared in Malay (Appendices 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4).

Methodology

The questionnaires for mountain guides and porters were distributed through the park staff. The park staff was briefed about the content of the 1-page questionnaire.

The author was present at the operation office in case the respondents needed any clarification. Most of the respondents took the questionnaire with them and returned it to the park staff and author a few days later.

A remunerator was trained to interview the SSL staff. The 3-page questionnaires were given to the respondents and the questions were explained.

Similarly, the respondents took the questionnaire home and returned it to the remunerator and author later. The main reason for this was that the staff of SSL were approached during day time. During day time, they were at work and it was not convenient to fill out the form directly. They preferred to take time to fill out the form in the evening instead of being interviewed. The constraint foreseen was that they wanted to avoid their superior becoming aware of their feedback on their job since they were living in the accommodation area provided by the SSL management.

Semi-structured and unstructured interviews

Semi-structured interviews regarding the role of Kinabalu Park in tourism development and the tourism impacts in Kinabalu Park were conducted with personnel from Sabah Parks HQ, Kinabalu Park, Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Ranau District Council, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), PACOS TRUST (Partners of Community Organizations), Sabah Tourist Guide Association, University of Malaysia Sabah and University of Technology Malaysia.

Mountain guides, SSL staff and porters were approached through unstructured interviews to obtain their opinion on the problems they faced at work. Tourist guides were approached through unstructured interviews to obtain general complaints made by foreign visitors as well as the guides’ perceptions on the guiding services offered in Kinabalu Park.

Observation through participation

Observation through participation was carried out by the author to evaluate the interaction between mountain guides and climbers along the summit trail as well as between the guide and participants during nature guiding. To observe the interaction

between mountain guides and climbers, the author went to the summit trail with park personnel as a researcher to examine the facilities provided along the summit trail and to participate in the climbing activities. The climbers and mountain guides were not informed about the author’s intention to observe their interaction during the climb.

Short casual conversations were also held with the climbers along the summit trail.

As for nature guiding, the author participated in the guided nature walks organized by both Sabah Parks and tourist guides from tour agencies in Sabah. The aim was to observe the interaction between the guides and participants and to compare the quality of guiding provided by the park personnel and private tour guides. For the guided walks provided by the park personnel, the participants were not aware that the author was a researcher. However, since the author was staying in the park for the field research, the park personnel were aware of the author’s intention.

Nevertheless, the author had to introduce herself and brief the tourist guide and the visitors about the purpose of participating in the guided walks provided by the tourist guides from tour agencies. Since those were private tours, the tourist guides also had to obtain verbal permission from their clients/tourists before allowing the author to join the guided walk.