This document discusses sustainable island ecotourism and income generation programs in Sabah, Malaysia. It outlines key principles of ecotourism including being nature-based and generating local benefits. It then discusses islands in Sabah's Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and Pulau Gaya as ecotourism destinations. The document emphasizes involving local communities, providing jobs and training, developing small businesses, and conserving nature and culture to generate income through sustainable island ecotourism. The goal is to improve livelihoods while minimizing environmental and social impacts through capacity building and participation.

1. TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN
IMPLEMENTING AND ASSESSING SUSTAINABILITY
PROJECTS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY : INCOME
GENERATION PROGRAM ISLAND ECOTOURSIM IN
SABAH
Jennifer Chan Kim Lian
PhD in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
26 August 2015
Palace Hotel , Kota Kinabalu
1

2. Presentation Outlines
2

3. Ecotourism
• Main pillar : nature based resource, environmental education and
sustainable management (Diamantis, 1999).
Dowling (1997)-five key principles:
• 1) nature based
• 2)ecologically sustainable
• 3)environmentally educative
• 4)locally beneficial
• 5) generates tourist satisfaction
JCKL/6/3/14
3

4. Islands in Sabah
JCKL/6/3/14
4

5. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
JCKL/6/3/14
5

6. Pulau Gaya
JCKL/6/3/14
6

7. Key components of island ecotourism
JCKL/6/3/14
7

8. Island ecotourism
Islands share common features of attractions :
• Natural resources-the coral reefs, fishes, mangroves, coastal
vegetation, white sandy beaches with clear blue waters
• Peaceful and harmonious condition of the islands.
Island ecotourists :
• opportunity to appreciate and enjoy areas of unspoilt natural beauty
and protected
• sensitive to development
• minimal impacts on the natural surroundings.
• nature conservation program -embrace ecologically and culturally
sustainable practices
8

9. Sustainable island ecotourism destination
• conservation and the maintenance of designated reserve
areas- pristine environment –coastal and sea and forest
• Ecological coastal profile - a valuable baseline for
determining the future impacts of development
• safeguarding and maximizing the environment
in natural, social and economic terms
JCKL/6/3/14
9

10. Sustainable island ecotourism
• a way of thinking and practice
• Residents and visitors alike to care and protect island natural resources
• Care for the land – trail and walk with guide, clean and unpolluted beach
and coastal area
• Care for the ocean and protect coral reefs, reefs lives and marines
• Practice recycle plastic, glass, paper and other waste
• Ecotourism program to conserve and protect natural resources:
• Eco-Adventure Volunteer and responsbile tourists
JCKL/6/3/14
10

11. Sustainable island ecotourism
Way of thinking and practice
CKL/6/3/14
11

12. 1. Participation and involvement island residents and the local
community
• Acceptance and support of the residents and local community
• Stakeholder and community participation – understand, accept and decision
making in planning process and promote authentic sustainable ecotourism
• Direct knowledge, experience and understanding from the community forms
the basis for the management of socio-cultural impacts
• Communities can engage in ongoing development and enhancement through
ecotourism (Wearing, 2001).
• Potential role in island community capacity building
• Involvement : caretaker to island natural resources , reduce ecological and
environmental impacts
12
Sustainable Island Ecotourism

13. Sustainable Island Ecotourism
2) Benefits of the residents and local community
-Employment or job opportunities, incomes
-Improving living condition – health and education system for the
islanders
3) Island cultural sensitivity
• The cultural dynamics of communities must be well understood in
order for ecotourism to be sustainable.
JCKL/6/3/14
13

14. Socio economic benefits
Island ecotourism adds value to environments, communities,
entrepreneurs, and tourists within ethical objectives ( Ryan, 2002)
1. Improve livelihood and jobs generation
2. Direct and non-direct economic benefits
3. Contribution to the promotion of local culture
4. Contribution to public health and education system
5. Infrastructure and security
14

15. What is Socio Economic Sustainability ?
JCKL/6/3/14
15

16. Income Generation Program Island
Ecotourism
1. Proper training and education
• Residents or islanders trained as ecotourism guides -environmental and natural
history
• Communication and language skill- guides and tour operators, park managers and
park rangers
• Knowledge and Skill - operate and manage small tourism businesses –
accommodation, food and beverage outlets, souvenir cum retail outlet
2. Employment opportunities and job creation in ecotourism related –
guides –jungle trekking, night safari, interpretation center, nature conservation
3. Entrepreneurship and financial assistance –operating small tourism related
businesses, scuba and dive shops
JCKL/6/3/14
16

17. 4. Capacity building
• Training and education program - children of the islanders to be ready and
able to participate in future tourism operations.
Series of skills training in the following areas of concern:
• 1. Orientation on Ecotourism
• 2. Skills training on Product Development, Packaging and Marketing
• 3. Environmental Awareness and Solid Waste Management
• 4. Tour Guiding and other related services
• 5. Cross visits and sharing lessons
JCKL/6/3/14
17

18. Approaches and key issues in Income Generation
Program Island Ecotourism
• Program features minimize environmental and ecological impacts
• Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods-generated alternative livelihood and
employment for the local residents
• Priority to community Participation and significant acceptance of islanders
• Emphasis on capacity building component
• Public Awareness of Global Environment and concept of sustainable island
ecotourism
• Enhancing natural and cultural diversity conservation
• Information, education and communication materials
JCKL/6/3/14
18

19. Income generation program
• Island Ecotourism conservation program- special project
– reef conservation, nature and night walk
• Special program features island cultural activities
• Diversify sea and coastal leisure activities
• Developing small tourism related activities – sunset
cruise
• Organic farming and interpretation center/education
JCKL/6/3/14
19

20. • Island Ecotourism encourages patterns of sustainability,
which can benefit local communities, protect the
environment, and be economically viable, it must be
comprehensive and account for the complexity of issues
and the context of the island
• Wearing (2001), “neglect of conservation and
quality of life issues threatens the very basis of
local populations and the viable and
sustainable tourism industry” (Wearing, 2001,
p. 407).
JCKL/6/3/14
20

21. Income generation program for Island ecotourism
21

22. 22
Thank you