INFLUENCE SHAPE FUTURE (SABAH)

Asia has become a hot bed for tourism growth, earning countries significant foreign exchange from their tourism industries. Sabah’s economic development is heavily predicated on tourism but if Sabah is to remain pristine and intact, Sabah must balance continued development with safeguarding its heritage and environment for future generations.Organisations such as The Sabah Society, Kinabalu National Park, and Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society do much to protect Sabah’s flora, fauna and culture. But efforts need to be taken to a new level by making the protection of the environment an everyday part of our lives and a key consideration in development.

The Sabah Tourism Board, or generally known as Sabah Tourism, is an agency of the Sabah State Government operating under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment. Sabah Tourism's primary responsibility is the marketing and promotion of tourism for the State.

In the effort of promoting Sabah and in ensuring the success and sustainable growth of the sector, Sabah Tourism is working closely with industry players. The continued effort of Sabah Tourism, with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and industry players, directly contributes to the overall development of the tourism sector on both national and international scale

Situated on the beautiful island of Borneo, Sabah is one of the thirteen states which Malaysia is made of. Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia and shares the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesian Kalimantan.

Tourism is Sabah’s third largest and one of the important income generating sectors which supports more than 80,000 jobs. Striving to ensure that tourism remains an important economic pillar, Sabah Tourism, continues to promote and market Sabah as a world-class premier eco-tourism destination.

Sabah, Best of Borneo

Sabah is richly blessed with nature diversity, unique cultures, fun adventure, beautiful beaches, and fantastic cuisines for the adventurous taste buds. We have it all, from the world’s largest flower - the Rafflesia, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia - Mount Kinabalu, to one of the world’s top dive sites - Sipadan Island. Sabah is also known for her great natural treasures which include the world-renowned Danum Valley Conservation Area and Tabin which is Sabah’s largest wildlife reserve.

Not only will you be amazed by the places to see and things to do here, you will also be treated with unique Sabahan hospitality. Explore the unique culture and tradition of Sabah and get ready to experience sweet memories to last a lifetime!

Borneo Island

        Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of the Maritime Southeast Asia. This island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Nevertheless, for people outside of Indonesia, “Kalimantan” refers to the area which is occupied by Indonesia on the island of Borneo. Malaysia’s region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the remainder of the island, being the wealthiest of the rest.

Once known as North Borneo, Sabah was under the British colony during the late 19th century till the early 20th century. Sabah gained self-government on the 31st of August, 1963. Sabah, together with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak formed the Federation of Malaysia on the 16th of September 1963.  At 76, 115 square kilometers large, Sabah is the second biggest state in Malaysia after Sarawak.

People and Culture

        The people of Sabah are known as Sabahans. Sabah is the third most populous state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor; it also has one of the highest population growth rates in the country.

         There are currently 32 officially recognized ethnic groups in Sabah with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being the Chinese and the largest indigenous group being the Kadazan-Dusun people. Two other larger ethnic groups in Sabah are the Bajau and Murut, compared to other states in the country; Sabah has relatively very small population of Indians and South Asians.Apart from the Sabahans’ very own diverse mother tongues, Bahasa Malaysia (national language) and English is widely spoken; Mandarin and some Chinese dialects are also widely spoken.

      In Sabah, we greet people by saying “selamat datang” (welcome) and/or “terima kasih” (thank you) with a smile. Due to religious reasons, some may prefer not to have physical contact with others. However, a handshake is generally acceptable as a way of introducing oneself.

It’s customary to remove shoes before entering a mosque as well as homes. In places of worship, visitors are required to dress modestly. Nude sunbathing is not allowed and is very frowned upon. Avoid pointing your index finger at others, as this is considered rude in the local custom.

As the world looks towards the East for future development, Sabah will need to pioneer and model a State worth visiting, investing and living in. Green Village Resorts will champion bamboo building and sustainable material industries in Sabah and combine luxury resort experiences with environmental education in a unique and experiential manner to provide a holiday of a lifetime, not found anywhere else in the world.

IMPACT OF TOURISM ( SABAH )

Sabah, at the northern tip of Borneo, has perhaps the most varied topography of the whole island, including the highest mountain between Himalayas and New Guinea, probably the best mangrove stand in Malaysia, and some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world.At 73,620 sq. Sabah is about the same size as Ireland, and is the second Largest of Malaysia’s thirteen states. Its, 1440 km heavily indented coastline is fringed by three seas: the south China sea to the west, the Sulu sea to the north east and the Celebes Sea to the south east.Sabah is a picturesque state of Malaysia; one of the thirteen that make up the whole country. This eastern most state is best known for its natural tropical beauty, a far reaching history and its art culture. Surprisingly, it is also known as the land below the wind, because of its closeness to the typhoon region of Philippines. Over the years, the popularity of this beautiful place has risen drastically, especially since people are looking for newer places to enjoy their vacations.

The flora and fauna of this beautiful state is no different to that of a tropical paradise. The western part of it mainly consists of mountains with forest vegetation but the elevation is not too high. The mountains are also home to kinabalu National park that is host to an array of wild animals in rainforests. The park has a unique geographical advantage such that a huge mix of plants exists in the region and is therefore also a world heritage site. The mountains also give way to a number of small and medium sized rivers and streams that snake their way towards the sea. This abundance of fresh water makes the region extremely fertile and keeps things is flow. The greenery and the wilderness attract thousands of tourists around the world.Away from the forests and historical places are the main metropolitan areas that are filled with shopping plazas and retail stores. Foreign brands and businesses have their shops here too, so any visitors or the residents do not have any inconvenience. Wide highways and clean roads make everything very appealing to the eyes. For those people, who especially want to make this place their home, beautiful neighborhoods are constructed near blue coastal areas making it a dream life for anyone.

The beautiful Kota Kinabalu City is one such example that is filled with constructions that people can ready by to settle in. Not only are complete villas and homes available, but also apartments and condos located near the coast line.Besides residential beaches, special tourist beaches are also developed with a wide number of restaurants there to cater to different people. A lot of these are also located quite away from the city traffic to give it a more natural look. 

Economic impact

As for the case of Sabah, responsible tourism is considered as the catalyst for sustainable development of rural tourism industry; it provides the means for poverty eradication by widening the distribution of tourism economic benefits by including the interior communities, in particular. The key objectives of responsible tourism applicable in Sabah, include: The key objectives of responsible tourism applicable in Sabah, include:

*     To protect the environment – makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural heritage (flora, fauna and landscapes), maintaining the world’s diversity.

*     To respect local cultures – traditions, religions and built heritage, minimising negative economic, environmental and social impacts as a result of tourism development in rural areas.

*  To benefit local communities – involves local people in decisions that affect them both economically and socially. By adapting the ‘Fair Trade’ principles, it generates sustainable economic benefits to the local communities, enhances their well-being and improves their accessibility to the tourism industry.

*  To conserve natural resources – better management of tourism destinations, efficient use of tourism resources and improved working conditions through effective training.

*   To minimise pollution – reduction of noise, waste disposal and congestion, application of green technology and educating visitors about the local environment and its issues.

Environmental impact

Developing a tourism industry has both benefits and costs. However, if these impacts are understood from the views of tourism stakeholders, strengths and opportunities can be maximised while weaknesses and threats can be minimised. 

Firstly, the impacts of tourism on environmental attributes such coral reefs, water, fisheries and beaches are discussed briefly. The impacts of tourism towards environmental attributes range derives from tourism activities such as boating, snorkelling, diving and fishing. Improper and irresponsible behaviour of tourist is also believed to be a significant reason that contributes to detrimental effects on the environmental attributes. The different mindset of tourist derives from the different level of environmental literacy that they have. The concept environmental literacy that consists of not only knowledge on the environment and its issues but also includes disposition components of attitudes, sensitivity and motivation are discussed thoroughly. Intention to act or intended behaviour that is explored in this paper would be the concept of willingness to pay for the environmental attributes. The tourism industry in Sabah, home to some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in the world, is suffering. The four kidnapping incidents since the beginning of the year and the recent murder of a policeman have forced the authorities to impose a curfew off the waters of Sabah. Since the disappearance of MH 370 until the end of April, MAS has cut 10 flights from Shanghai to Sabah, while China Southern Airlines has cancelled 22 flights from Shenzhen and Chinese budget carrier Spring Airlines has axed 44 flights from Shanghai, according to reports.

Further falls in tourist arrivals and revenue may bring the industry to a near-collapse situation. Daniel Dougty, the immediate past president of Sabah Tourist Guides Association, says it is difficult to quantify how much Sabah tourism has been hit but tourism industry players like hotel operators, tour agencies and tourist guides are struggling. A number of tourist guides in Sabah have either changed carrier or are working part-time in another industry to supplement their income. Tour agencies have started selling their assets to stay afloat and many are contemplating closing their businesses.

CONSOLIDATION STAGE

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has emerged as a major destination for urban tourism. This is in contrast with the rest of the country which is better known for its beautiful scenery, beaches, majestic rainforest and mountains .(Turner, 1975). Kuala Lumpur, as the youngest capital in South-East Asia has only recently been promoted as a tourist destination. It is now the most economically successful city after Singapore. It attracts visitors for its mix of old and new. The few remaining colonial buildings lend charm among the ultra modern skyscrapers and buildings which has transformed Kuala Lumpur into a major destination for urban tourism. 

Urban tourism becomes one of the main functions of the cities and its importance is still growing. This is the result of, among others, increasing prosperity, as well as improvement of the mobility of societies. The cities offer a number of products aimed at tourists, the quality and attractiveness of which often determine the competitiveness of cities thus determining their development. On the one hand, intensive tourism is a favourable phenomenon associated with the activation of the local economy, but on the other hand, it can interfere with the functioning of the city. High volume of tourist traffic can also cause degradation of tourist values, thereby reducing - in the long term - the tourist attractiveness of the place.

The development strategies for the next 20 years are focused on the vision for Kuala Lumpur to become a World-Class City. The strategies are also firmly grounded on the direction and accomplishments of the KLSP 1984 that set the framework for the structure and present growth patterns of Kuala Lumpur. The physical shape of Kuala Lumpur, the distribution of land uses, the new growth areas, infrastructure development especially roads and rail systems are all directly attributable to the policies and strategies set out in the KLSP 1984.

Consolidation is the area continues to attract tourists. The growth in tourist numbers may not be a fast as before. Some tensions develop between the host and the tourists. The local economy is probably dominated by tourism at this stage, and many local people will make their money from this type of industry.  However, this can remove people from other industries such as farming and fishing and these industries can suffer as a result.  There will be continued building and expansion of the resort BUT some of the older buildings will start to become unattractive and a lower quality client base might result.

*      Tourism growth slows but the numbers of tourists exceeds the local population

*      The area's economy is tied to tourism

*      Marketing and advertising will be wide-reaching

*      Major franchises and tourism chains will be represented

*      Resort areas will have a well-defined recreational business district

 *      Tourism arouses opposition and discontent from some local people