oa Prospects of Geotourism in Limestone Area: Experience from the Langkawi Global Geopark

Limestone outcrops have long been associated with human civilizations and cultures. Many evidences of early settlements and burial ground have been found in limestone caves. In this modern era, limestone is regarded as a rock of a thousand uses and is being actively mined everywhere for short-term economic gain. At the same time, limestone outcrops have attracted a lot of people who come to admire their aesthetic, cultural and recreational values. Malaysia has very limited limestone areas but they are known for their high aesthetic and scientific values. However, in Malaysia today we are witnessing a conflict between destructive and non-destructive exploitations of limestone. Many beautiful limestone outcrops have been mined because of their high economic value without a slight consideration for other more important values that can bring in more cash in the long term.