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MALAYSIA must anchor its tourism development in environmental protection and biodiversity stewardship to become a world-class and future-ready destination, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said.
“Environmental stewardship is the cornerstone of this approach. As one of the world’s 12 megadiverse nations, Malaysia is home to more than 15,000 plant species and 175,000 fauna species,” Bernama reported him saying.
“Protecting these rainforests, mangroves and coral reefs is not just a national duty but a global responsibility. When these ecosystems flourish and thrive, they will in turn become natural magnets for tourists.”
Anwar’s remarks were delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof during the launch of World Tourism Day 2025: ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’, and the 7th World Tourism Conference.
The event was attended by Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, and United Nations Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
Positioning Malaysia as a leader in sustainable tourism, Anwar said nature-based experiences are among the high-value segments being prioritised, alongside adventure travel, Muslim-friendly tourism, medical and wellness services, educational journeys, business events and digital nomad hubs.
“Together, these priorities form the backbone of our strategy to grow our tourism sector meaningfully, sustainably and with resilience for the years to come,” he said.
He noted that Malaysia is also encouraging circular economy models and revenue-sharing mechanisms, ensuring tourism income is reinvested into the destinations and ecosystems that support the industry.
“This helps address what scholars term the ‘invisible burden’ — the often-overlooked costs of maintaining the infrastructure and ecosystems upon which tourism depends.”
Addressing the climate impact of tourism, Anwar said no nation can decarbonise the industry in isolation, making global and regional partnerships essential.
“The elephant in the room is tourism emissions, especially from aviation, which accounts for half of the sector’s direct emissions,” he said.
As ASEAN Chair this year, Malaysia is pushing for deeper regional integration through seamless travel, harmonised standards and stronger sustainability frameworks.
“Malaysia is responding by investing heavily in Sustainable Aviation Fuel, with our first biomass-based facilities due in 2027 — a step that will both decarbonise travel and create new green industries and jobs,” Anwar said. - September 27, 2025
