Community participation in the tourism recovery programme post earthquake disaster in Mesilou Village of Kundasang, Sabah

This study focuses on local community participation in the tourism recovery programme of post-earthquake disaster in Mesilou Village Kundasang Sabah. Mesilou Village is located nearby Mount Kinabalu. Community-Based Tourism (CBT) in this village offer many benefit to the local community particularly in term of monthly side income. However, in June 2015, the earthquake disaster has given negative impact on tourist activities in Mesilau Village. Therefore the main objective of this research is to examine local community participation in the tourism recovery programme post-earthquake disaster in Mesilau Village. The data collection methods in this study were based on qualitative approach. In-depth interview method was applied to seven main informants. At the same time, the field observation data collection method is also applied. The finding of this study indicates that local community in Mesilau Village directly involved and they are active in tourism recovery programme post earthquake disaster. This programme is the main mechanism to recover and increase the monthly income of the participant. On the other hand, this program has given a new idea to the participant to rebuild new tourism product instead of the previous products. This tourism recovery programme is also offering previous tourist services that have been stopped because of the earthquake disaster.