Proceedings of the 2 nd Tourism and Hospitality International Conference 2012, Kuala Lumpur, pp. 17-31. ISBN: 978-983-2078-83-8 PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE OF LENGGONG VALLEY, MALAYSIA Ahmad Edwin Mohamed, Nurhazani Mohd Shariff & Kalsom Kayat School of Tourism, Hospitality and Environmental Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah DarulAman, Malaysia ABSTRACT The Archaeological Heritage of Lenggong Valley has been an important heritage site in Malaysia due to its significant archaeological discoveries which expands from 1.8 million years to the recent 2,000 years ago. Archaeologist claim that the location is the oldest human inhabitant in the South East Asia and it is also where the most complete pre-historic human skeleton was ever found in this region. Despite its importance, it has only been designated as World Heritage Site in June 2012. Thus far, very little is known about local people’s perceptions towards this heritage site. Understanding local people’s perceptions are crucial for the success of future conservation program and tourism development within the area. For that very reason, this study was carried out to determine local people’s percept ions towards Lenggong Valley. For this purpose, a stratified random sample of 200 residents from two villages adjacent to the heritage site were interviewed using self-administered questionnaires. The data was then analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 16.0) that produced the means, frequencies, Cronbach’s Alpha, t-test and ANOVA results. From the survey, the data showed that in general local residents were positive about heritage conservation and tourism development. These perceptions however differ significantly with respect to their gender and place of birth. Keywords: perceptions; heritage conservation; tourism development, world heritage site 1. Introduction 1.1 Background and rational Lenggong is a sub-district within Hulu Perak, located about 100 km to the north-east of Ipoh on the Kuala Kangsar to Grik road. Until today, it is still under-developed rural area mainly dominated by agricultural and logging activities. Only recently, some tourism activities have been recorded though not very significance. Using visitor arrival data obtained from Lenggong Archaeological Museum as an indicator, a total of 78,000 visitors recorded in 2009 (Lenggong Archaeological Museum, 2010). Lenggong Valley became an important archaeological site in Malaysia partly attributed to the excavation of ‘Perak Man’ which has been dated to be about 11,000 years old (Zuraina, 1994; 2005). This is one of the most complete prehistoric human skeletons from Palaeolithic period that have ever been found in South East Asia region. It was discovered in 1991 at Gua Gunung Runtuh by Zuraina Majid, an Archaeologist from Universiti Sains Malaysia. This discovery has contributed to a crucial part of South East Asia and Australomelanesoid early history. Besides this infamous discovery of ‘Perak Man’, there were many other great discoveries that have taken place in this very small district. Among others were the excavations of 100,000 years old stone tools at Kampong Geluk and Kampong Temelong. In addition to that, a site of an old stone tool workshop was also found in Kota Tampan. A radio- carbon dating indicated the site to be 30,000 years old. Other excavations in Bukit Bunuh have led to the discovery of the earliest known site of human inhabitant in South East Asia which believed to take place some 1.8 million years ago. This finding could very well rewrite the theory of great human migration from Africa to Australia and to other parts of South Pacific island countries. Given the above significances, the Department of National Heritage Malaysia announced its plan to nominate the Archaeological Heritage of Lenggong Valley (or in short, Lenggong Valley) as the United Nation Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in December 2009 (Loh, 2009, December 17 th ). Its commissioners explained that Lenggong Valley has contributed many important findings to the world’s archaeology. After almost 3 years of hard works, finally in June 2012 this site was officially inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List under t he category of Prehistoric Archaeological Heritage for its outstanding universal values (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 2012). The designation of Lenggong Valley as a world heritage is expected to further elevate the local tourism industry to another level. In fact, even prior to this, plan was already in place to develop Lenggong as a primary heritage destination in the country as embedded in the District of Hulu Perak Local Plan for 2002 – 2015 (Jabatan Perancang Bandar dan Desa Negeri Perak, 2002).