Safeguard Natural Heritage To Build World-class Tourism Industry - PM Anwar

MELAKA, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia must safeguard its natural heritage to build a tourism industry that is both world-class and future-ready, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said that by doing so, Malaysia could capture the imagination of travellers from across the globe.

“Environmental stewardship is the cornerstone of this approach. As one of the world’s 12 megadiverse nations, Malaysia is home to more than 15,000 plant species and 175,000 fauna species.

“Protecting these rainforests, mangroves and coral reefs is not just a national duty but a global responsibility. When these ecosystems flourish and thrive, they will in turn become natural magnets for tourists,” he said when launching the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2025: Tourism and Sustainable Transformation and the 7th World Tourism Conference (WTC) here today.

The text of his speech was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Anwar said nature-based tourism is among the high-value segments being prioritised by Malaysia, alongside adventure tourism, Muslim-friendly travel, medical and wellness services, educational journeys, business events and digital nomad hubs.

“Together, these priorities form the backbone of our strategy to grow our tourism sector meaningfully, sustainably and with resilience for the years to come.

“In that spirit, we are also promoting circular models and revenue-sharing mechanisms that channel tourism returns back into the very destinations that sustain them.

“This helps address what scholars term the ‘invisible burden’, the often-overlooked costs of maintaining the infrastructure and ecosystems upon which tourism depends,” he said.

On tourism emissions, Anwar emphasised that no country can achieve an industry-wide shift alone, making multilateral cooperation essential for a sustainable future.

As ASEAN Chair this year, he said Malaysia is working to deepen regional integration through more seamless travel, harmonised standards and stronger sustainability frameworks.

“The elephant in the room is tourism emissions, especially from aviation, which accounts for half of the sector’s direct emissions.

“Malaysia is responding by investing heavily in Sustainable Aviation Fuel, with our first biomass-based facilities due in 2027, a step that will both decarbonise travel and create new green industries and jobs,” he said.

-- BERNAMA