Go green, tourism players told

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KOTA KINABALU: There is a growing trend among travelers opting for tour operators, resorts and hotels that are able to keep their carbon footprint low.

And realising this, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman therefore urged tourism players in Sabah to go green by coming up with eco-friendly products and services.

Stressing that the task could not be done overnight, he however believed that by taking small steps, it would eventually accumulate to make a difference.

“By keeping up with trends especially on sustainability, we can ensure that our tourism assets are protected and that we are able to meet the visitors’ expectations.

“The tourism industry is dynamic and highly sensitive to changing visitor perceptions and needs. Visitors have become more knowledgeable, with many carrying out their own research through the internet to determine their choice of destinations,” said Musa in his speech which was read by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan during the official closing ceremony of the World Tourism Conference here, yesterday.

He said the state government had established smart partnerships with the private sector and many other stakeholders, including local communities, that would lead to the steady growth of the tourism industry to bring significant contribution to Sabah’s and national economies.

Musa said this was reflected by the diversification of tourism products and growth of visitor arrivals.

In 2002, Sabah’s visitor arrivals surpassed one million and by 2006, the number doubled.

“We recorded 2.24 million arrivals in 2009, generating RM3.87 billion in tourism receipts. As of August this year, we recorded 1.59 million arrivals, an increase of 7.6 per cent compared to the same period last year.

“Our target is to attract 2.36 million visitors this year and by 2020, we hope there will be 4.5 million people visiting us,” he said.

He said the Sabah government recognised that tourism and its development needed to be sustainable for the long term and for the generation to benefit.

“This requires careful thought and planning from project design all the way to implementation.

“Tourism in Sabah is in many ways linked with the environment and this is why we advocate sustainable development of our resources, embracing both nature and culture,” said Musa.

Musa said it was imperative that Sabah took great care of the natural and cultural resources, adding: “Especially if they are concerned with significant aspects of our heritage and identity. Sabah is blessed and very proud of its multi-cultural and natural legacies.”

On the conference, he said Sabah hosting the auspicious event was timely as it embarked on the Sabah Master Plan study to set the pace and direction of tourism development for the next 15 years.

“Information gathered from presentations and what we have learned from experiences of others on present and future tourism trends will be useful in adding input to the master plan,” he said.