You are a member of the Malaysian Department of Tourism. Since 1991 the number of tourists visiting Taman Negara has doubled to 48,000 per year in 1998. This is partially due to promotion of the park in the United States and Europe as the place to experience a rain forest. . The resort itself is for profit, not run by the government, and therefore advertises extensively with various tour groups to bring more people to the park. On a long holiday weekend it is difficult to find accommodations. Building another lodge a few kilometers away would spread out the visitors and allow more people to come at peak times.
The resort employs many locals and the increased wealth from tourism in the area has helped eliminate poaching by the villagers. Making a road and bridge into the park would mean more jobs for locals as well as year round additional visitors eating, staying and shopping in the village. The government room tax means more money for the federal government, as well as funds for Kelantan and Terengganu, the two poorest states in Malaysia. The per capita annual income in Kelantan is $US 140.00
Even though most of visitors to the park are European, the entrance fee is nominal (only $1 RM) and therefore affordable for Malaysians. Since this is the largest protected area of primary rain forest in peninsular Malaysia, it is a valuable resource for the people of Malaysia and should be available for them to visit.If the park were not present, it is likely that the rain forest would have been cut down and used for palm oil and rubber plantations. Such plantations exist right up to the boundaries of the Kuala Tahan headquarters. It is essential the area be protected for future generations.