The recent 12th Malaysia Plan and commitment to Conference of the Parties (COP) 2021 signal a move towards the country’s preparedness to progress its economy in a greener direction, says Syed Ahmad bin Syed Mustafa, COO of the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) in a panel discussion organised by Airbnb titled ‘Rebuilding Malaysia Tourism with Sustainable Travel’.
“The relaxation of lockdown measures now provides the tourism sector a chance to rejuvenate itself; and with the continued closure of international borders, it is wise for tourism industry players to re-strategise their marketing by incorporating sustainable practices. We need to strengthen our joint efforts toward a sustainable, just and inclusive recovery. I firmly believe this will significantly impact the development of sustainable tourism in Malaysia, based on the commitment of government and local tourism accommodation business support shown through the spirit of participation today,” he said in his opening remarks to the discussion.
Green, sustainable travel is gaining awareness amongst Malaysian travellers. According to Airbnb’s Meaningful Travel Trends Survey 2021 with global data analytics firm YouGov, which explored local travel preferences and behaviors amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, over 60% of respondents said they often consider the environment and sustainability when choosing travel accommodations and destinations.
Being close to nature was the #1 criteria for respondents when deciding where to go, with more than half saying they desired slower-paced holidays in smaller groups, and travel to less crowded and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
Panelists discussed the importance of nurturing sustainable travel in Malaysia; the challenges involved in driving sustainable tourism locally; and how travellers, industry players and local communities can collectively rebuild a more responsible and environmentally conscious form of post-pandemic travel in Malaysia.
