PERANAN JARINGAN SOSIAL DALAM AKTIVITI EKOPELANCONGAN DI KEPULAUAN LANGKAWI GEOPARK, KEDAH MALAYSIA.

Social networks are a non-economic element that can be used to operate and develop an economic activity, that is ecotourism among social actors (boat operators and boat owners), in their village in the archipelago of Langkawi Geopark, Kedah Malaysia. Social networks are embedded in the social actors’ economic action, i.e. operating and developing those ecotourism activities. This article discusses some findings from a study that has been conducted by the authors of this article to understand the main research issue on the significant role of social networks in operating and developing the activities in a village community in Langkawi. Specifically, the objective of the study is to analyse the structure of social networks, bases of the social network structure formation and types of social networks. Social networks theories such as homophily theory and embeddedness theory were applied to substantiate the argument concerning the role of the networks in the ecotourism activities. Data was gathered through qualitative and quantitative approaches. Social network analysis was conducted using a computerised UCINET VI software that analysed the structure and patterns of social networks. The study showed that bases of social network formation such as shared values and shared norms are found among the boat operators and boat owners who were involved in the ecotourism activities. Other similarities among them were in terms of relationships ties, goals, residential locations, and organisational membership. Furthermore, the shared values and norms and the other similarities formed the structure of social netwok shaped by types of social networks such as friendship networks, family networks, and work related networks. The shared values and norms and the social networks operated and developed the ecotourism activities such as boat ownership and boat operations for the tourists. The study concluded that social networks indeed operated and developed ecotourism activities in the village community in Langkawi Geopark. The implication for the study is the important contribution of social networks to the development of ecotourism activities and socio-economic growth of village communities in Langkawi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]