POTENSI PENGEMBANGAN “WISATA EDUKASI SINTOK HIDDEN LAKE” UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA UNTUK MENDUKUNG SUSTAINABLE TOURISM TAHUN 2024

Abstract

Tourism is an important growth sector for many countries, including Malaysia, which is one of the top tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. In 2013, there were 1.1 billion international tourist arrivals globally, with USD 1.2 billion in revenue. This neighboring country continues to strive to develop its tourism sector with a sustainable approach. One of the potential areas for the development of educational tourism (edutourism) in Malaysia is Sintok Hidden Lake located in the Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) campus area. Despite having great potential with its natural beauty and rich biodiversity, this area is not yet equipped with adequate infrastructure and facilities. Through SWOT analysis, strengths and opportunities for education-based tourism development in this area can be maximized, while weaknesses and threats such as poor infrastructure and climate change need to be managed properly. Efforts to develop the Hidden Lake area as a sustainable edutourism destination require careful planning, strategic partnerships, and appropriate environmental management to achieve sustainable development goals.