EMPOWERING MOUNTAIN GUIDES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND VISITOR WELLNESS IN KINABALU UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK

Abstract

This paper investigates how tourist well-being and sustainable tourism practices within the Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark are affected by mountain guide empowerment. The main goal is to have a thorough awareness of the functions mountain guides perform in advancing environmental consciousness, improving cultural appreciation, and thus supporting visitor general well-being. Using a systematic literature review (SLR) to synthesise current information on the topic, a qualitative research approach was used to reach this. Using topic synthesis approaches, relevant academic papers, reports, and case studies from reputable sources including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were methodically located, chosen, and examined.
Three primary theme areas sustainability awareness encouraged by guides, their part in promoting cultural appreciation, and their contributions to visitor wellness were the emphasis of the evaluation. By means of critical examination of thirty peer-reviewed papers released between 2013 and 2024, important trends were clear, underscoring the transforming power of guides as arbitrators between environmental preservation and visitor experiences. Studies have shown that well-trained guides improve tourists' emotional involvement and environmental awareness, therefore enhancing their travel experiences. Often found as contributing elements to good visitor well-being were themes like cultural storytelling, eco-interpretation, and emotional connection. According to the summary, empowering guides via organised training in environmental education and wellness-oriented interpretation techniques greatly increases both tourist enjoyment and ecological responsibility. The study comes to the conclusion that expanding sustainable tourism at Kinabalu Geopark depends critically on formalising guide certification procedures including features of wellness promotion and sustainability education. This study advises further ethnographic and participatory action research to expand knowledge of the lived experiences of guide and guest alike, thereby laying a basis for next policy and training schemes in sustainable tourism.