LocationsEnvironmental conservation, economic empowerment among focus of Sustainable Tourism Conference
October 10, 2024
Group photo of delegates at the conference.
10 October 2024, Putrajaya – UNDP Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Tourism Productivity Nexus (TPN) today successfully organised the Sustainable Tourism Conference in conjunction with World Tourism Day (WTD) 2024.
With the theme “Tourism and Peace – Rebuilding Tourism Resilience & Readiness Through Sustainable Tourism”, the conference featured international and local speakers who shared insights, ideas, and expertise on sustainable tourism practices, innovative strategies, and the latest developments in line with digital technology advancements.
Tourism plays a significant role in fostering global understanding, cultural exchange, and economic growth, further supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, the conference focused on sustainable tourism practices, which involve environmental conservation, local economic empowerment, and the protection of cultural heritage, contributing to global peace.
Knowledge-sharing sessions at the conference covered topics such as Community-Based Tourism, urban and rural tourism, and their connections to peace, as well as the latest tourism-related policies. The experiences gained from each session aimed to raise participants' awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism practices.
From top, clockwork: Norhafiza Shafie, UNDP Malaysia Programme Analyst, Inclusive & Sustainable Economy; Tendi Sherpa, founder of TAG Nepal Treks and Expedition and renowned mountain guide who has summitted Mount Everest 17 times; and Asfazam Kasbani, Director of Pusat SDG Negara (National SDG Centre)
The conference successfully attracted over 300 participants, including representatives from various ministries, government agencies, industry players, and relevant non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The strong turnout reflects the general awareness and sensitivity towards the importance of sustainability practices in every link of the national tourism industry’s value chain.
In addition to this, the conference was preceded by the Sustainable Tourism Industry Champion Workshop, held on 9 October by UNDP in partnership with the TPN under the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC). The workshop was the final session of a four-part series, aimed at developing sustainable tourism leaders across the domestic tourism sector.
The workshop featured a full day session together with key tourism industry associations and experts, and was designed to empower participants to address challenges across areas such as high-yield tourism, governance and industry readiness, community-based tourism, digitization, and capacity building.
In the final session, participants had the opportunity to share their proposals, ongoing projects, and planned initiatives for sustainable practices, aligning with the National Tourism Policy (NTP) and the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review. Moving forward, these leaders will go on to implement and showcase the sustainable practices they have learned in real-life scenarios, driving impactful change within the tourism sector.
The workshop featured a full day session together with key tourism industry associations and experts.
Dr Yasmeen Yasim, Deputy Secretary General (Tourism) of MOTAC said, “Among the initiatives Malaysia has taken to foster sustainable tourism is the development of UN International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) sites. I am happy to note that MOTAC is working very closely with UNDP in identifying and subsequently developing potential INSTO sites in the country.”
“To better integrate peacebuilding into our nation’s tourism agenda, we also focus on creating tourism experiences that highlight the importance of social harmony and cultural coexistence. At the same time supports local economies, particularly marginalised communities. The Homestay Experience Program is a great example of how tourism empowers the local communities by uplifting their income and quality of life while maintaining their rich cultural heritage,” she continued.
TPN Champion, Rohizam Md Yusoff, highlighted the importance of the workshops and conference in reinforcing Malaysia’s commitment to tourism excellence. “These initiatives underscore the country’s dedication not only to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but also to enhancing productivity and competitiveness, positioning Malaysia as a global leader in the tourism sector. This effort is also closely aligned with the objectives of Malaysia’s Sustainable Tourism Recovery Project,” he stated.
Manon Bernier, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam said, “While numbers of tourists in Malaysia is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, if we want to build a more resilient tourism sector – we must set our sights higher than just increasing tourist numbers. We need to reimagine tourism as a driver of sustainable growth, placing the preservation of natural assets at the forefront. It’s about creating innovative, low-impact tourism products and fostering deep collaboration—between governments, NGOs, the private sector, and communities.
“By revitalizing tourism together, we can create not only economic prosperity but also strengthen peace and social cohesion. Working in silos is no longer an option. Sustainability must be at the heart of all our strategies, with local actions and strong governance ensuring that we respond dynamically to challenges. A whole-of-industry approach is essential to shaping a resilient and inclusive future for tourism.”
Certificates presented during the conference, to Sustainable Tourism Industry Champions who successfully completed the Workshop series.
The close collaboration between MOTAC, UNDP Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, and TPN in organising the WTD2024 Conference demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to driving the sustainable development agenda on an international level, especially in anticipation of its Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025 and the Visit Malaysia Campaign 2026, in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.
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