Destinations have always been a major reason for tourism activities to take place, in any part of this world. And destinations have been able to attract tourist mainly due to its climate, be it warm, cool or cold. From the extreme negative temperatures of Antarctic icebergs to extreme high temperatures of Middle Eastern desserts, climate has proven itself as a major influence in determining tourism activity level at destinations.
“Climate change is likely to have a long term affect on tourist activities, destinations and flows as well as the capacities of countries, destinations, and firms to respond to such changes.”
(UNWTO – UNEP -WMO 2008).
“United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has been actively working on the issue of global climate change for some years and is committed to seek balanced and equitable policies to encourage responsible energy related consumption in the industry world wide.” This requires innovative and changed behavior to effectively respond over time and tourism can and must play its part in resolving the issue.
UNWTO has determined that tourism is a primary source of foreign exchange earnings to many developing nations around the globe. In Malaysia, as we all know, Tourism is the second highest revenue generator to our economy.
Malaysian Tourism Industry realizes that Tourism which has close connections to the environment and climate itself is considered to be a highly climate-sensitive economic sector similar to agriculture and energy. Changing climate is now becoming evident at destinations around the country and climate change is already influencing decision-making in the tourism sector throughout Malaysia. Climate being a principal resource for tourism, as it codetermines the suitability of locations for a wide range of tourist activities, is a principal driver of Malaysian tourism demand.
Climate change could and will bring more unseen circumstances in the history of the world and it will have a huge effect on many nation and industries. As such, Malaysian Tourism Industry players must also respond positively and must immediately undertake necessary actions to help conserve nature and ultimately climate as soon as possible. Many of our destinations and tourism related businesses are very much dependant on climate and its effects. Therefore, Malaysian tourism industry players must not delay any longer in handling the issue at hand.
Favorable climatic conditions at destinations in Malaysia are key attractions for tourists. Nature based tourism in Malaysia is highly dependent on our fantastic tropical climate and weather condition.
In general, for all forms of tourism activities in Malaysia that takes place outdoor, accurate climate and weather information is the key for planning and carrying out of trips and tour programs. Climate can impact on a wide range of other basic resources of tourism in Malaysia, such as the availability and quality of freshwater supply and ensuring more cleaner and fresh air in both Peninsular and East Malaysia. Any negative increase in climatic conditions can seriously harm Malaysian tourism operations and host communities that depend on them. Directly, climate variability and changing weather patterns can affect the planning of tourism programs in Malaysia and seriously affect the tourists’ comfort, their travel decisions, and eventually the tourists’ flow. This would pose a serious obstacle in Malaysia’s target of achieving more than 20.9 million tourists that we had received in 2007.
Indirectly, climate change would also have a significant impact on tourism activities undertaken throughout Malaysia by altering the natural environment that represents both a key attraction and a basic resource for tourism throughout the country.Transportation which is one of the main components of travel and tourism is an evident challenge as not only the high profile air transport with its direct interrelationship to green house gases, but also cruises, road and rail transport which are major factors in intraregional and domestic tourism has been a huge factor in diminishing our climate further.
Tourists in today’s environment are a group of well updated individuals. This is due to the advancement in Information Technology where news and updates are available at a push of a button. Moreover, the establishment of numerous environmental and ecological concerned groups has created a vast array of information readily available to the world at any given time. The tourist community itself has responded to the challenges of climate change over the past few years and visibly stepped up its response to climate change.
As such, the tourism industry, globally and Malaysia in particular has a key role to play in confronting the challenges of climate change. The spectacular growth of global tourism provides both challenges and opportunities. There is now a clear understanding that the industry can be part of the solution to climate change by reducing its green house gas emissions as well as by helping the communities where tourism represents a major economic source to prepare for and adapt to the changing climate.
Tourism is an important element in climate change. Both the Malaysian government and private sectors must place increased importance on this factor in tourism development strategies and in climate strategies. The need is there for responsible growth. Responsible tourism growth in Malaysia would ensure continuous revenue generation as well continuous employment opportunities.
As such, many tourism industry players have realized that it’s extremely important to keep them updated regularly on the climate changes and both its challenges and opportunities.
There are numerous ways that can and should be undertaken in order to minimize the negative elements that effects climate change and if it’s done with proper planning, it would benefit the industry as a whole. Therefore, tourism industry players, especially travel agents must play their utmost important part in helping to keep our climate at a desirable level and practice positive steps in moving towards this direction.
The most important element that must be instilled in all tourism organizations in Malaysia, be it an airline, travel agency or hotel is Continuous Education and Awareness Program on Climate Change and its effect to our tourism industry. Only by continuous education and awareness, we can push forward the idea of importance of climate to our industry personals and its economic effects on the industry.
Through this, we would be able to educate industry personals on the importance of conserving energy and curb unnecessary wastage which would help reduce economic cost and “nature’s cost”.
Likewise, it’s equally important for industry players to Educate Consumers on the importance of choosing environmental friendly packages and/or including environmental friendly tour elements in order to reduce the negative effects. For example, travel agents should encourage passengers to cycle in Brinchang, Cameron Highland while visiting attractions instead of using motorized vehicles.
Tourism industry personals should also educate consumers on their consumption behavior. In cases, where motorized vehicles are required, consumers should be encouraged to accept SIC (Seat in Coach) transfers as it would reduce the number of vehicles used from one point to another and help in reduction of carbon dioxide.
Consumers should be encouraged to travel together, probably by van or a coach, instead of private transfers individually as it would put more vehicles on the road and this would create more emission of carbon dioxide, which is unfriendly to nature and ultimately would affect the climate further.
Malaysian Tourism Industry should also help promote eco friendly destinations as this would help in reduction of ecologically damaging elements. Promotion of eco destinations would automatically reduce consumption of motorized vehicles. There would be more needs for usage of alternative travelling options such as small boats, bicycles and walking itself.
Recommend alternative transportation to nearer destination instead of flying. Industry personals should encourage tourists to travel by land to shorter destinations rather flying as this would help reduction of emission of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, such a move would create an opportunity for tourists to discover the beauty of Malaysia. In fact, it may also create an opportunity for economic revenue generation as tourist may indulge in some level of shopping activities.
Insert reminders on itineraries given to tourist on how they can contribute in reducing effects of climate change. We would be able to help remind tourist on the little things necessary in reducing the negative elements. Tourist should be encouraged to walk to shorter destinations rather than riding in a cab.
Introduction of “Nature Tax”. At Nantha Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd we have already begun an awareness program among consumers on the importance of preserving nature in a smallest way possible. We are encouraging consumer to contribute voluntarily towards this noble cause.
Reduction of Mass Tourism would help in our cause. Malaysian Tourism Industry players should plan well ahead in staggered tourist arrivals, rather than limited Mass arrivals. If we are able to bring in tourist continuously and in a staggered manner, it will ensure sustainability of many smaller industries which are highly dependent on tourist, such as cottage industries. As such, it would be a healthy practice as it would bring in tourist regularly and continuously and thus help generate continuous revenue to service providers.
Switching to paperless environment would be a great step in moving towards this positive direction. Although, it’s impossible to be 100% paperless, emphasis must be instilled in employees to reduce usage of paper for unnecessary circumstances. It’s a simple calculation. The lesser the demand is for paper products, the lesser trees that we would fell. Thus it would indirectly help improve nature and its climate.
Conclusion
Although, some of the points above may not sound feasible to some industry players as it may not be attractive to attract consumers, but, it should be looked at as a long term sustainability plan. Travel agents should not only look into short term revenue generation but must also plan for future long term revenue generation strategies.
The Malaysian government must establish programs that aim to facilitate the local efforts by tourism stakeholders in integrating climate change into their broader institutional, industry, policy and national goals and programs which are mainstreaming climate change. Mainstreaming climate change refers to the incorporation of climate change adaptation and mitigation into all institutional, private, and non - profit tourism development and planning strategies and tourism business strategies.
Malaysian government and private sectors including tourism industry players must recognize the high dependence of tourism activities on climate conditions, and the high vulnerability of many of our destinations to climate change impacts, and establish important measures to address the complex relations between climate change and tourism.
No matter whatever the environmental outcome is, tourism cannot be seen in isolation. Major changes in the pattern of demand will only lead to wider impacts on many areas of economic and social policy. For example, the affects would be in employment and labor demand and in regional policy issues such as housing, transport and social infrastructure. Knock-on effects could influence other sectors, such as agriculture supplying tourism demand, handicraft industries, and local small business networks and so on.
Tourism sector in Malaysia, through its major contribution to national and global development, can influence other sectors in the country by sending important signals to governments, industries and the public that climate mitigation and adaptation measures are not only vital for our future, but also make economic sense in today’s environment.
Thank you.
M. Nantha Gopal
Managing Director
Nantha Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd
