JERANTUT: Eco-tourism sector workers here who were laid off after the Covid-19 pandemic have found greener pastures in commodity plantations.

Felcra Tembeling Tengah manager Amir Nasriq Abdul Hamid said he received many job applications from residents of Kuala Tahan and surrounding villages, including those from the eco-tourism sector to work in the palm oil and rubber estates.

He said the number of applications went up after the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented last year.

"It is a beneficial situation for us because we were facing a shortage of workers in the estates such as cultivation, weeding works, and collecting (palm) fruit bunches. Previously, a lot of the work was done by foreign workers. 

"Currently, there are 22 tourism workers working in Felcra Tembeling Tengah and there are five former tourist guides who ventured into the plantation sector.

"There are also 12 former resort and chalet staff as well as five boat operators working at the Felcra Tembeling Tengah plantation," he revealed.

Amir said in the early stages of working, it was quite tough for former eco-tourism workers to carry out the job, but they could do the tasks well.

Meanwhile, a tour guide who only wanted to be known as Man said he had to work in a palm oil plantation for the sake of survival.

He had to continue working to earn money to support his family and other commitments.

"Although the work initially was quite tough, I gradually familiarised myself with farm work comfortably.

"I hope the tourism sector in these areas will recover soon because the residents here, especially the younger generation, rely on the tourists to earn an income," he said.

The Kuala Tahan tourism sector has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, causing about 300 ecotourism industry players to change careers.

It has caused 300 individuals in the industry, such as tourist guides, boat operators, resort workers and resort owners to lose their source of income.

In order to survive, some of them are now turning their attention to various other jobs that have nothing to do with the tourism industry.

Others have tried to earn a living by turning to vegetable farming, undertaking volunteering work, selling kuih muih and other jobs to make ends meet.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/09/728340/eco-tourism-commodity-plantations