KINABATANGAN: Malaysia has 25 tourism accommodation establishments with Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification, including seven in Sabah, reflecting the tourism industry’s growing commitment to sustainable practices.
The seven certified accommodations in Sabah are Maliau Basin Conservation Area Lodge, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area Lodge, Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Turtle Island Lodge and Bilit Adventure Lodge (BAL).
BAL completes the list of seven GSTC-certified accommodations in Sabah and is the first accommodation establishment along the Kinabatangan River to receive the certification.
Meanwhile, Dusky Leaf Adventure is the GSTC-certified tour operator in Malaysia, while Imbak Canyon Conservation Area holds certification under the destination category.
Vireo Asia Pacific customer representative Kaitlyn How said GSTC certification helps tourism industry players improve their sustainability practices while gaining international recognition.
She said the certification also builds confidence among travellers seeking responsible travel experiences and helps businesses remain competitive as sustainability becomes increasingly important in the tourism industry.
“We hope more tourism businesses will take meaningful steps towards sustainability, not just to obtain certification, but to make it part of their daily operations.
“We also hope more tourism businesses in Malaysia will adopt sustainable practices, create positive impacts on local communities and contribute to the long-term growth of the tourism industry,” she said.
She was speaking to Daily Express after the presentation of the GSTC certification under the accommodation category at BAL recently.
The certificate was presented by How to BAL director and Kinabatangan Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association Sabah (KiTA) president Lim Si Tsung @ Johnny Lim, witnessed by Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Head of Stakeholder and Industry Relations Halimah Haji Hassan and GSTC-authorised trainer Mochamad Nalendra.
GSTC Criteria cover four main areas: sustainable management, socio-economic impacts, cultural impacts and environmental impacts.
Lim said the certification reflected BAL’s commitment to responsible tourism, including environmental conservation and community involvement.
“Sustainability is not only about protecting the environment, but also about ensuring that tourism continues to benefit local communities and future generations,” he said.
As a tourism operator in the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life, Lim hoped the achievement would encourage more tourism operators in the district to adopt internationally recognised sustainability practices to safeguard its natural and cultural heritage.
He also thanked STB for organising the GSTC training programme, which helped tourism industry players better understand international sustainability standards and strengthen their capacity to implement responsible tourism practices.
BAL manager Nelson Deocampo said GSTC was important because it provided a clear direction for responsible tourism, ensuring that development did not come at the expense of the environment and local communities.
“As a resident of Kampung Bilit, I hope sustainable tourism will continue to protect our natural heritage while creating more opportunities and improving the livelihoods of local people,” he said.
The certificate presentation was held in conjunction with the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Programme focusing on destination standards, organised by STB from Oct 13 to 15 at Hotel Ormond in Sandakan.
The three-day programme brought together 32 representatives from government agencies, private-sector destination management organisations and destination custodians, including Sabah Parks, the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Sabah Forestry Department.
