A Tale of Tourism In Two States: Sustainability Approaches For Penang And Sarawak

ON 30 MARCH, the International Day of Zero Waste, the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme and UN Tourism launched the “Recipe of Change” initiative. Supported by major players in the global tourism sector, it is committed to delivering ground-level impacts to prevent food waste, lower costs, influence consumer behaviour, build resilience against supply shocks and accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food systems.[1] This initiative reinforces a sustainable tourism approach “that takes full account of [tourism’s] current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”[2]

How is this ethos being expressed by Penang and Sarawak?

PENANG
Imagine relaxing in a “sea jacuzzi” and playing pickleball on the waters! On 8 April, Penang announced these new tourism experiences on the man-made “Forest Island”, built on an aquaculture farm near Pulau Jerejak.[3] It now houses the world’s first permanent open-sea pickleball court. This innovative experiment is also conscious of ecological limits. Speaking on Forest Island’s innovative offerings, the state Executive Councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, Wong Hon Wai, emphasised that these demonstrate “how tourism can be developed responsibly while offering experiences that delight visitors and contribute positively to the local community.”

This project aligns with Penang Global Tourism’s (PGT) encouragement of balance between increased connectivity as well as responsible destination management and branding. As Ooi Chok Yan, PGT’s chief executive officer (CEO), noted, Penang’s growth as both a regional and international tourism destination has been driven by factors including visa-free entry for select markets, which “significantly improved accessibility and encouraged higher visitor arrivals, particularly from key source mar-kets in Asia”, and the National Tourism Pol-icy 2020–2030, which positions tourism as “a sustainable, competitive and high-value sector”. Another crucial factor has been a “focus on smart tourism and digitalisation [which enhances] the overall visitor experience through better connectivity, data-driven marketing and seamless travel planning. Strategic initiatives such as strengthening governance, developing tourism investment zones and upskilling human capital have also contributed to improving service quality and industry resilience.”