Meeting on ecotourism pitfalls and strengths
Published on: Friday, September 19, 2014
KOTA KINABALU: The conflict between Malaysia's great potentials for rapidly growing ecotourism and its pitfalls will be discussed in great length by a congregation of 16 speakers from Australia, UK, Japan, China, Africa and Malaysians at the upcoming 8th Pacific Ecoturism Conference 8-10 October at the Sutera Pacific Hotel, acccording to a press release from the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA)." While ecotourism has the potential to create positive environmental and social impacts, it can be unfortunately damaging if not done properly," says Matta President , Hamzah Rahmat.."So it is a major challenge to put ecotourism on a truly sustainable path, which requires the tourism industry, govenments , local community and the tourists themselves to cooperate and work as partners," said Hamzah who appeals to all to participate to gain better understanding, more effective method and technologies to drive this sensitive component of the indutry to a sustainable path. Themed 'Adding Value Through Ecotourism Development' , a potentially very useful session includes a workshop on 'how to build an eco-lodge – both the building and the business' , facilitated by architect Sim Sie Hong , Yukio Hasegawa on the environmental impact of design, Ian Hall on the social impact of design, Amy McLoughlin on responsible tourism standards and Albert Teo on marketing eco-lodges.
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Other speakers include Professor Ross Dowling , a geotourism expert from Edith Cowan University, Perth, Masaru Takayama, executive director of Japan Ecolodge Association, Amy Carter-James, founder of Guludo Beach Lodge , Mozambique, China's Dr Young Ng, founder of The Association for Geoconservation , Hong Kong, Alison Prichard, manager of Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Amos Wekesa , founder of Budongu Eco Lodge and Primate Lodge, Kibale, Uganda and Professor Amran Hamzah, while other names include Isabel Sanderman, Mohd Hashim, Professor Felix Tongkul and Dr Jamili Nais. Director of Sabah Parks .Culture and Tourism Minister of Malaysia , Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri will give the opening address while State Culture, Tourism and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun will deliver the closing address.MATTA Vice President Inbound and Apeco 2014 advisor , KL Tan, said the remaining stock of natural environment now holds a key means of production for business growth in the industry for the simple fact that ecotourism is increasingly sought after, not just among local urbanies but also by foreign visitors seeking adventures, education, and recreation, far away from the concrete jungle."This growing flow of tourists towards nature has to do with increasing global awareness of the serious environmental wreckage and disasters coming from climate change and the excesses of human activities," Tan said.
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Organising Chairman, Albert Teo, said the conference will bring together a vast amount of knowledge from some 16 speckers from four continents who will cover a diverse range of topics and success stories iin ecotourism. It will also provide a means for the industry experts to network , share their expertise and knowlhoe on the latest trends in ecotourism marketing , conservation, operations and community-based projects , said Teo who is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Ecotourism Society .
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