First of 2 parts
When done well, tourism can serve as a sustainable cornerstone of a country’s economy, simultaneously supporting ecosystems and livelihoods.
“Tourism will only be sustainable if developed in consideration of both visitors and the local community. This should be done through the lens of cultural, socio-economic, and environmental preservation,” says economist Norhafiza Shafie of UNDP Malaysia
Tourism is one of Malaysia’s major economic sectors, contributing 6.7 percent to its gross domestic product (GDP), and responsible for generating US$18.32 billion in revenue in 2019.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent travel restrictions resulted in a 72 percent reduction in tourism’s direct contribution to Malaysia’s GDP in 2020. An estimated 100,000 persons in the industry were retrenched, while others were subjected to unpaid leave or pay cuts. The impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector has been extensive, affecting the whole value chain. With the easing of travel restrictions, Malaysia received more than 5.5 million tourist arrivals in the first nine months of 2022 ―an increase of over 7,000 percent from 2021.
In light of the tourism sector’s rapid recovery, the need for careful planning, community consultation, and a sustainability focus are especially apparent.
In Malaysia, the tourism industry is seizing the opportunity to transition to a more sustainable and resilient model, underpinned by well-protected and conserved natural assets, free from pollution and degradation.
Waste not
One area of concern is waste management on destination islands, where an influx of human activity and population―mainly driven by tourism―has further complicated an already complex problem of waste treatment and disposal on islands that often lack the proper infrastructure to establish and maintain holistic waste management systems. UN News (To be continued)