NATIONAL ECOTOURISM PLAN 2016 - 2025KHAIRIAH KAMARUDDINMinistry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia

FOCUS AREAS① Investment in Ecotourism②Tourism Concessions③Synergy between Ecotourism &

Conservation④Ecotourism Marketing⑤Ecotourism Clusters

APPROACHES FOR ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT

In order to attract investments in ecotourism, 3 strategies are proposed:

3Strategies

12Actions

3

Aspects covered: Improve coordination and

transparent procedure Showcase and open up

ecotourism investmentopportunities Refine the existing

investment facilitationprogrammes

INVESTMENT IN ECOTOURISM

IskandarRegional Development

Authority(IRDA) Incentives & Facilitation

Khazanah/Themed Attractions Resorts &

Hotels (TAR)Partnership

Merlin Entertainments

Licensing for

LEGOLAND MalaysiaResort

Investment Effect on surrounding tourism developments

SANRIiO Hello Kitty Town Puteri Harbour Marina Desaru Coast

• LEGOLAND created acceleratoreffect to transform IskandarMalaysia into Malaysia’s familyfun capital.

• The incentives offered by thegovernment include FlagshipIncentives Iskandar Malaysia(FIM) and Iskandar MalaysiaIncentive and Support Package(ISP) – both targeted at service-sector activities.

BEST PRACTICES:LEGOLAND PPP MODEL

Tourism concessionssuitable method for the sustainable financing of protected areas and ecotourismdestinations.

TOURISM CONCESSIONS

Better service quality and

product development

1

Enhanced visitor

satisfaction

2

PA agencies can focus on conservation

of parks

3

BENEFITS OF TOURISM CONCESSIONS

4

Reduce administrative, manpower and

financial burdens

Increase economic

value

5

Reduce illegal activities such

as wildlife poaching

6

7Create employment

and develop capacity, skills and access to

capital for local communities

5

BEST PRACTICES:

To improve the synergy between ecotourism and conservation and increase localcommunity participation

6Strategies

32Actions

Aspects covered: Improve federal and state

coordination in ecotourism Increase CBET representation at the

national and state level Showcase best practices in the

management of ecotourism sites Scaling up of homestays to

provide better service andinterpretation

7

SYNERGY BETWEEN ECOTOURISM AND CONSERVATION

ECOTOURISM MARKETING

• Superficial environmental commitment

• Multi-purpose visits• Short trips• Larger groups• Physically passive• Physical comfort• Services/facilities are

expected• Shallow interaction with

nature• Wilderness not essential• Emphasis on

interpretation• Rely on travel agents and

tour operators

• Mix of Soft + HardFactors

• Emphasis on physically active activities with element of risk/danger

• Often (not always) requires specialist equipment and/or training

8

• Strong environmental commitment

• Specialised visits• Long trips• Small groups• Physically active• Physical challenge• Few, if any, services expected• Deep interaction with nature• Wilderness necessary• Emphasis on personal

experience• Often make own travel

arrangements

HARDSOFTADVENTURE

Characteristics of the Ecotourism Spectrum:

ECOTOURISM SPECTRUM

9

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE Tourism Digital Ecosystem:

• Digital technologies have been integrated into every stage of the travel process.

• Tourists today use various apps and digital services directly (booking systems, social media, payment) or indirectly (channel managers, back-end databases, etc.) during their trips.

THE CONCEPT OF CLUSTERING Ecotourism only occurs in

rural/remote areas Lack of critical mass Developed & promoted in silo

Existing Situation

Lack of economiesof scale

Small size (small firms, low numberof accommodations, etc.)

Low capital for development Low manpower (numbers, skills, etc.)

Proposed Approach

To create economiesof scope

Share infrastructuredevelopment

Share marketing & promotion

Share manpower & human resource (training, capacity building, etc.)

COLLABORATION(Operators + local communities + NGOs + Gov.)

CLUSTERING

Destination Coordination Group

through

10

create

ECOTOURISM CLUSTER NEW APPRO

ACHES FO

R ECOTO

URISM

DEVELO

PMEN

T

60 Ecotourism Clustersin MalaysiaPerlis 1 clusterKedah 3 clustersPenang 2 clustersPerak 4 clustersSelangor 4 clustersMelaka 3 clustersN. Sembilan 4 clusters Johor 6 clusters Pahang 6 clustersKelantan 3 clustersTerengganu 7 clustersSarawak 9 clustersSabah 8 clusters

Sabah (8)

Sarawak (9)

Kelantan (3)

Terengganu (7)

Pahang (6)

Johor (6)

Negeri Sembilan (4)

Melaka (3)

Selangor (4)

Perak (4)

Kedah (3)

Penang (2)

Perlis (1)

Proposed 60 ecotourism clusters, whereby 43 clusters are located inPeninsular Malaysia, 9 clusters in Sarawak and 8 in Sabah.

11

NEW

APPROACH

ES FOR ECO

TOU

RISM D

EVELOPM

ENT

ECOTOURISM CLUSTERProposed Destination Coordination Group (DCG) Structure

GOVERNMENT AGENCY INDUSTRY PLAYERS / NGOS LOCAL COMMUNITY

Members: Ministry responsible for tourism &

forestry/wildlife (state/federal) Local Tourism Agencies Local Authority

Members: Resort operators Tour operators Guide Association Nature/ Wildlife NGOs

Members: Existing community associations Community representatives

Developing Ecotourism Cluster

Roles: Advisory Monitoring Infrastructure development Promotion

Integrated decision making

Roles: Aspirations Planning Conflict resolution

Cluster Optimisation: Product Development Human Resource Destination Management Marketing and Promotion.

Facilitating/Supporting Leader

NEW

APPROACH

ES FOR ECO

TOU

RISM D

EVELOPM

ENT

T H A N K Y O U

Slayt Numarası 1Slayt Numarası 2In order to attract investments in ecotourism, 3 strategies are proposed:Slayt Numarası 4TOURISM CONCESSIONSSlayt Numarası 6To improve the synergy between ecotourism and conservation and increase local community participationECOTOURISM MARKETING Slayt Numarası 9THE CONCEPT OF CLUSTERINGSlayt Numarası 11Slayt Numarası 12Slayt Numarası 13