Eco-friendly tourism or ecotourism is classified as tourism items and services

provided which will give protection to the environment and prevent the dangerous effects
on the natural environment (Hammitt and Cole 1998, 358 ) . Ecotourism has become
more popularized for some nations today. Due to the coming of the tourist, ecotourism is
contributing to the economy at a national or state level, increasing in employment for any
generation in Malaysia whether is educated or non-educated and a rise in social and
growth of culture (Mohd Rusli et al. 2007, 95).

The tourism industry has become one of the most important sectors to develop the
country as well as the income of the country such as Malaysia(Soh 2010,28). Ecotourism
is consider as a new tourism because it is the future of the tourism in some of the
countries such as Costa Rica, Dominica, East Malaysia and Zimbabwe. Many countries
are also trying to combine elements of environmental conservation into tourism
management (Friedman 2009,16). Their main target is to protect the natural resources and
also gain profit in economy. Ecotourism has the least consumption of natural resources
and it will not destroy the beautiful nature in this world.

In the early of 90s, Malaysia has a very slow performance in growth of ecotourism
compared to other countries (Yacob 2009,97).In these few years, Malaysia has been
developing ecotourism rapidly and has frequently been visited.The government is
concentrating on environmental conservation and also financial benefits. In Malaysia, the
contribution of the individual people or society involved in the ecotourism market is
increasing by trusting on natural resources and ecotourism(Vanessa 2009,16). The society
is encouraging the development of ecotourism because the nation need some relaxation
and grateful of natural resources by the nation. (Radam 2009,95).

This report is written for the Ministry of Environment to empower the popularity of
ecotourism in Malaysia. This report will discussed the benefits of ecotourism in section
2.0, ways to conserve natural and cultural resources in section 3.0, and current issues and
challenges of ecotourism in Malaysia in section 4.0. Recommendations will be offered to
address the ways to solve the issues and challenge of ecotourism.
2.0 Benefits of ecotourism
2.1 Free of pollution

The main benefit of ecotourism is it is free of pollution which nowadays is

getting more serious. Ecotourism can protect the world by promoting
environmental conservation, teaching ecological knowledge and gain some
unforgettable experiences for tourists (Study moose 2014). It will encourage the
government to increase the number of protected forest area and to make
environmental policies and practices for different ecosystem. There will be less
construction for the development of the ecotourism and it won’t destroy the
natural resources in the areas. It will prevent many kind of pollution like air
pollution, land pollution and thermal pollution. The best tourism that will
strengthen environmental conservation and cultural understanding is called
ecotourism (Harrison 1997,90). Therefore, ecotourism can help in reducing the
pollution that will affect people’s health and every citizen will be living in a
healthy and comfortable area.

2.2 Increase in popularity

Ecotourism can increase the popularity of nature.In the old days, it was not
that popularized and it was seldom visited seldom because most of the citizens
do not have any idea of ecotourism.So their choice of traveling will not involve
ecotourism in any segment of the world. But now the number of tourists has
been increasing. The modern tourists want to look at the world by experiencing
something unique and special without corrupting the visited places(Alan 2007,
32). Furthermore, ecotourism also can help Malaysia to become more popular
and one of the developed countries in the world. Malaysia has a large proportion
of forest area.It has numerous protected forest areas transformed into national
parks including Lambir National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park, and
Kinabalu Park. Therefore, ecotourism can cause the country become more well-
known and let the nations know more about ecology.

2.3 Increase in employment and income

One of the advantages is increase in employment and income of the country. The
invention of local incomes is influenced by the action of spending funds of the tourists
( Nurul 2009, 32). Altman(1988) stated that the higher the work given oppotunities will
benefit the economic profit. Ecotourism can also create more work and the pioneering
chances will be enhanced for minimized groups of society (Van and Berghe 1992, 32).
This job is considered as a high-paying salary and it is available for locals and foreigners.
Most of the youngsters are involving themselves in ecotourism careers and their standard
in studies are not that essential roles in tourism markets (Zambrano 2010, 77). Moreover,
ecotourism also will give their workers chances to learn something new such as ecology,
knowledge of flora and fauna and protection of nature (Zambrano 2010, 78). Workers can
be join in the touring of the nature with free admission when they are in their break
time(Zambrano 2010,78). Therefore, ecotourism not only can help in increasing
employment but also will help in the economy of the country.

3.0 Ways to conserve natural and cultural resources

3.1 Provide opportunities to experience nature

Ecotourism can create awareness about the importance of natural and cultural
conservation in Malaysia by providing opportunities to experience nature. The tourist will
know more about what is the definition of environmental protection and experiences the
beauty of nature. Ecotourism can help them to gain the knowledge about the effects in the
surrounding area with a large number of trees such as deforestation, and habitat
fragmentation (Zambrano 2010, 65). This will decrease negative impacts on the natural
environment.The tourists will be responsible for their vital role to help in conserving the
nature like reducing the wooden furniture in their house, recycle things and stop open
burning. It is important to know that national park is not a toy or an instrument to play
with or destroy it and it needs the love from the people so the natural environment will
continue being a tourist area.Furthermore, ecotourism also provide tourists information
which they will conserve the nature resources with their heart (Barna 2011,
92).Therefore, when the tourist experience the nature, they know that they need to
contribute or conserve this beauty of nature.

3.2 Provide ongoing contributions to local community

One of the ways to conserve natural and cultural resources is providing ongoing
contributions to local community. It will raises the concerns for cultural conservation like
biological diversity and care for sustainable use of resources, which provides
environmental experience for the tourist (Kiper 2012, 774). It also helps the society to
involve for preservation of the environment and it will gives the motivations to the
neighborhood group so that biodiversity will be maintained (Kiper 2012,
775).Ecotourism also contribute in promoting the tourism industry and it consumes the
lowest of natural resources. Biological system work affect the community’s way of
thinking by joining ecology effectively and finally brings awareness of preservation and
protection of natural resources.It supports the efforts of preservation society that conserve
the environmental area (Kiper 2012,774). An area’s flora and fauna and amusement will
be conserved in a proper manner (Kiper 2012, 774).Therefore, ecotourism can provide
ongoing contributions to society to help in conserving natural resources.

3.3 Provide best practice for environmentally sustainable tourism

Ecotourism can create awareness about the importance of natural and cultural
conservation in Malaysia by providing best practice for environmentally sustainable
tourism. Ecotourism is a comfortable natural area to travel and also learn to practice
conserving natural resources. Knowledge and the quality of training are strongly focused
on by ecotourism (Kiper 2012, 774). When ecological tourists look at some unique living
things and wonderful scenery, they will be grateful and pay respects to the local culture
(Kiper 2012, 776).They will not destroy the environmental resources and this will undo
damage to the nature. Ecotourism has a package that is natural resources conservation
learning program (Matthew 2002, 779).It will help to protect the ecosystem by maintain
the ecosystem where the ecotourism attraction is located. Conservation and protection of
wild living things such as endangered species (Matthew 2002, 779). Because people will
live friendly with wild living beings.Therefore, ecotourism will definitely provide best
practice to the livelihood or tourists for environmentally sustainable tourism.

4.0 Current issues and challenges of ecotourism in Malaysia

4.1 Lack of funding

The current problem and the risk of ecotourism developed in Malaysia is lack of
funding. The number of tourists approached and receipts dropped in 1997 and 1998 with
13% and 10.6% fall because of economy of Asia is in risk(Jayaraman 2010,30). Most of
the travellers from other countries spend with less budget for travelling included
souvenirs and some necessity goods( Jayaraman 2010,30). Since ecotourism is a new
tourism among all the kind of tourism, so the government did not have the confident to
enlarge the ecotourism with fundings. They not dare to try and take the risk to sponsor the
ecotourism and individual or environmental education society is the only one who
sponsor the ecotourism with some of their funds. The funds needed for the ecotourism are
emergency preparedness that response to natural disasters in any tourism area and
preserve the travel destination (Bruce 2003). The travel destination is lack of basic
construction and urgently needed systems to ensure that natural resources which need to
improve well (Bruce 2003). The travel accommodation is also needed for funding. The
tourists need the accommodation to have a rest and gather to prepare for their jouney.
Malaysia also lack of funding to conserve environmental area such as beach, rain forests,
rivers and mountains.Therefore, ecotourism is lagging for funding to protect the
environment area and improve the travel destination.

4.2 Lack of participation by non government organisation in Malaysia

One of the issues and challenges is lack of participation by non government

organisation in Malaysia. Non-government organisation (NGO) is playing the second
most important role in ecotourism development planning. By counseling NGOs and
neighborhood groups organizers can take the necessities and wishes of these partners on
board at early phases of proposition composing and guarantee ceaseless support for
activities (Danida 2006, 29). (NGO) will manage the environment in high level and raise
the awareness for the public. But Malaysia has less organisation that related to ecotourism
because this tourism is not that popular. The organizations think that for joining in this
ecotourism activities cannot earn profits and any benefits to them. So they do not have
any much interests to participate in ecotourism activities. The organisations like World
Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia(WWF-Malaysia) is taking their responsibility in
preservation of environment area in Malaysia throughout the previous couple of decades
(Danida 2006, 29). The government also will take large percentage of the profits from
ecotourism and leaving a little for non-government.

4.3 Excessive of visitors

Challenge for ecotourism were facing in Malaysia is excess of visitors in tourist

destination. Managing visitors in tourist destination is really challenging and it is
specifically essential for the sustainability of ecotourism resources(Zaiton 2013, 214).The
visitor management is relevant to the issues of overpopulation of visitors and excessive of
foreigner(Zaiton 2013, 214). When the tourists overcrowded in national park,the tourists
were forced to squeeze together and cannot enjoy the beauty of the nature.At worst, they
cannot get in at all and explore the nature. The national park is free admission and there is
no limit on the number of tourists.Kruger (2005) also found that excessive of tourists to
an area always led to shameness to a country and unsustainable usage(Zambrano 2010,
79). Some of the irresponsible visitors from the crowd will do illegal activities in the
national park including littering, destroying the natural resources and smoking.
Therefore,overcrowding is one of the biggest issues destroying the tourist destination.

5.0 Conclusion

In conclusion,the development of ecotourism in Malaysia can reach to a higher level

due to larger forest area compared to other countries. Ecotourism can bring economic
benefits and protection benefits in Malaysia. The government is trying many ways to
promote the ecotourism for conservation and preservation of these unique tourist
destination. Ecotourism will also encouraging numerous of environmental preservation
practices and raise the awareness among visitors on beautiful natural resources.
Nowadays, Malaysia need to face different of challenges and issues for ecotourism but
Malaysia is lucky because it is rich in natural resources.Most of the nations believe that
ecotourism will become one of the most popular tourism or interest in the future.It is very
important that the local community would involve themselves in the ecotourism so that
the flora and fauna and forest that contain a lot of natural resources will be preserved and
protected. Malaysia also can achieve to become a developed country on 2020.

6.0 Recommendation

Ecotourism has many challenge and issues need to be overcome in Malaysia.This report
is provided some recommendations for the Ministry of Environment in Malaysia to
overcome the challenge and current issues:

 Should charge the visitors for the entrance fee. This can improve the tourist
destination and also upgrade the urgent system for tourist.
 The government should sponsor NGOs to allow the organisations to organize more
events and activities about ecotourism.So that most of the nations will know more
 details about ecotourism and conservation of environmental areas will maintained.
 Minimize the amount of visitors. Separate the visitors into different groups. So that
they can enjoy the beautiful view.