SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN MALAYSIA (AYU)

FUNDAMENTAL OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY

REFLECTIVE JOURNAL  (SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN MALAYSIA)

PUTERI AYU ALLIANA BINTI ALUWI (17DUP191024)

Sustainable Tourism in Malaysia

The policy question often raised is: can tourism be economically viable for private companies and local communities, while also being sensitive to environmental, cultural and social needs? The short answer is “yes” (Edgell, Allen, Smith and Swanson, 2008). Mowforth and Munt (2003), Van Egmond (2007) refer to a highly polarized and simplified debate, equating to “tourists = mass tourism = bad” and “travelers = appropriate travelling = good”. Misconceptions are misleading the world’s largest industry in terms of sustainable development and management of tourist destinations. The power of tourism is a very large research area and the legitimate utilization of “doing tourism” has a power to change, rejuvenate or literally to define the world’s sociocultural and economic system. Sustainable tourism is an interesting topic of discussion and it is crucial to assess where the discussion of sustainable tourism has arrived at.

Most of the studies illustrate the host-guest encounters or an index model, simplifying the sustainable development practices, limiting themselves to give non-practicing measures a wide publicity with existing scenario of environmental issues. But relating tourism to holistic sustainable practices is rarely seen and there is an extreme research gap in the practice of sustainability in tourism and its allied sectors. Many authors argue that tourism should be the subject of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary (Wang, 2000; Mowforth and Munt, 2003; Van Egmond, 2007). But the practice of tourism as an extradisciplinary (Tribe, 1997) is less discussed in the successful tourism management. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) strongly advocates tourism as tool for alleviation of poverty in poor countries. All over Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia numerous tourism projects are initiated by local authorities, communities or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to contribute to local and regional economic development. Many projects, however, fail to reach economic goals. They either have problems in attracting the required volume of visitors, so as to pass the break-even point, or host the “wrong” (i.e. non lucrative and/or harmful) visitors. Most projects are inward-oriented rather than market-oriented. Here the issues associated with tourism development are that sustainable development is a global holistic approach for any tourist destination in the world. Many destinations lack knowledge of potential markets. Understanding the “tourist” phenomena as well as the ability to employ specific marketing tools, are crucial success factors for tourism development and for defining a more sustainable tourism.

 Managing sustainable tourism depends on forward-looking policies and sound management philosophies that include a harmonious relationship among local communities, the private sector and governments regarding developmental practices to protect that natural, built and cultural environment while being compatible with economic growth (Edgell, Allen, Smith and Swanson, 2008). Practicing sustainable tourism in developing countries is even more crucial, as shows Malaysia as an example of South East Asia countries now opened to the Asian market. Tourist flows to the regional countries are widely heterogeneous. Thus, the potential tourism markets of the South East Asian countries are heterogeneous in nature. Managing tourism to the heterogeneous tourists is extremely complex and practicing sustainable tourism is further a complex process. The problem here is that the sustainable tourism products can be successfully sold to tourists who are not specifically seeking it. Thus, sustainable development is not to be used in the tourist destination but it is a process that should be used on the “tourism system” as a whole.

5.4 - Discuss issues related to sustainable development in tourism and hospitality industry

    

Tourism and Hospitality industry is a broad field and while most people have a basic idea of the types of businesses that count as hospitality brands, a far smaller number are able to provide a coherent and satisfactory explanation of what the industry is and what is not. It is also one of the largest industries, comprising more than 9.3 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product. Every year, over a billion tourists visit destinations by air, land and sea. Hotels alone account for over half a trillion dollars worldwide in annual revenue. The industry is very broad, meaning there are plenty of opportunities and specialty fields, both visible and working behind the scenes. In fact, one in eleven jobs in the current world economy are related to tourism and hospitality. Tourism and hospitality includes attractions management, convention planning, customer service, event planning, food service, gaming, lodging, marketing, sales and travel. Working in tourism and hospitality management could land you a job almost anywhere in the world. Hotels, airlines, restaurants, transportation companies, tourist services, convention centers, casinos, sports teams, ravel agencies and activity providers are all part of a dynamic industry that continually needs skilled employees.

Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability. Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive or corrective measures whenever necessary. Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them. 

POSITIVE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

There’s a lot of positive things about sustainable development in this indstry. One of them is, it can develop a country. When sustainable development increases, a country will be prosper and the country will gain knowledge from other countries. Next, sustainable development can provide job opportunities. Graduated people can apply for a job after they are graduated from a university and it can increases household income. Furthermore, it can develop economic relations between countries. Next, positive things we can related with the topic is the ministry should take care the business relationship with other country. So if we take care and treat them properly when we do business with them, they will trust us and do the same business with us and because of that the financial of our country will increase and increase. It can also develop infrastructure & facilities.

NEGATIVE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Sustainable development in this industry can bring negative sides too. Some of it, shortage of facilities can happen such as, a bus that bring tourists that have no good service. Next, it will cause seasonal employment and make people who already have job lost their job without knowing the result of their jobless. Furthermore, destruction of habitat. If there’s no activity preserve wildlife, there will not have activities that tourists can do for example, if there’s no volunteer place such as Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, there will be no place that tourists can visit and because of that the country will face problem which is decrease the number of tourists that visit Malaysia every year. Last but not least, vandalism happened when the other country make a business with a country, they will disturb the country when they are not satisfied with how the country treat them.

SUGGESTION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

Firstly, a sustainable tourism should make an optimum use of evironmental resources that consitute a key element in tourism development, maintaning essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural natural heritage and biodiversity. Second, respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance. Lastly, ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary.

Sustainable development in tourism and hospitality industry is really important because tourism wields tremendous economic positive outcomes. It is one of the world’s most significant sources of economic outcomes and employment. However, tourism is a very complex industry involving numerous stakeholders and requiring significant amount of resources. As such, tourism can have very opposite effects according to the way activities are managed. Managed well, tourism can play a positive role in the socio, cultural, economical, environmental and political development of the destination and as such represents a significant development opportunity for many countries and communities. On the contrary, unchecked tourism development can lead to very damageable impacts impacts on natural resources, consumption patterns, pollution and social systems. The need for sustainable planning and management is imperative for the industry to survive as a whole.

CONCLUSION

Managing sustainable tourism depends on forward-looking policies and sound management philosophies that include a harmonious relationship among local communities, the private sector and governments regarding developmental practices to protect that natural, built and cultural environment while being compatible with economic growth (Edgell, Allen, Smith and Swanson, 2008). Practicing sustainable tourism in developing countries is even more crucial, as shows Malaysia as an example of South East Asia countries now opened to the Asian market. Tourist flows to the regional countries are widely heterogeneous. Thus, the potential tourism markets of the South East Asian countries are heterogeneous in nature. Managing tourism to the heterogeneous tourists is extremely complex and practicing sustainable tourism is further a complex process. The problem here is that the sustainable tourism products can be successfully sold to tourists who are not specifically seeking it. Thus, sustainable development is not to be used in the tourist destination but it is a process that should be used on the “tourism system” as a whole.