PUTRAJAYA: One of the world's fastest growing economic sectors will take a break today to reflect on building a sustainable future for the industry. Tourism is a multi-billion trade, which represents one in every 12 jobs available globally.
Tourist receipts amount to almost US$3bil (RM9.2bil) daily around the world, according to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the United Nations agency which oversees policies to promote responsible tourism. As the the ninth most frequented country in the world for three consecutive years (2009-2011), tourism in Malaysia has contributed RM58.4bil to the Gross National Income last year, through the spending of the estimated 24.7 million holidaymakers.
Given the immense amount of business interest in the industry, the UNWTO deserves praise for promoting principles to prolong the longevity of the world's beautiful places, which in turn gives consumers more attractions and wonders to enjoy for a longer time to come.
The World Tourism Day (WTD) was established in 1980 for such a purpose. Without plans for sustainability, the tourism industry would face great risks, including millions losing their sources of income and Mother Nature threatened with degeneration. Quality living can only be brought about by responsible custodianship of the earth's well being.
Recognising the importance of this, the UNWTO has set “Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development” as the theme of this year's WTD. Malaysia, which is part of the 155-member states in the global organisation, has voiced its support for a national commemoration of the WTD, which would take place at the Tourism Ministry in Putrajaya.
“Malaysia adopts the best practices in sustainable tourism management and upholds the principle (of a) tourism (industry) that conserves, preserves and protects,” Tourism Minister Dato' Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said in a media briefing at her office recently. She cited several examples showing Malaysia's commitment to the cause, including the designation of 14.3mil (or 44%) hectares of the country's total land area as Permanent Reserve Forest, close monitoring of eco-tourism activities, and the careful preservation of the nation's status as one of the 12 mega bio-diversity countries in the world.
An effort closer to the community includes the two-year-old 1Malaysia Green, 1Malaysia Clean campaign aimed at inculcating an attitude to maintain a clean environment nationwide.
The key event of the WTD celebration will be a day-long panel discussion headed by eco-tourism experts under the theme “Tourism: Powering Sustainable Development and Wealth Creation”. The ministry will also, for the first time, give out limited edition corporate postage stamps depicting the various facets of Malaysian tourist attractions.
“The tourism industry is listed as a National Key Economic Area under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), which has been targeted to expand by drawing 36 million tourist arrivals and tourist receipts totalling RM168bil by 2020,” said Dr Ng.
-thestar online.
PelanconganKini: Happy World Tourism Day - 27 September 2012
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