Malaysia

World HOST, 29 Nov – 2 Dec

Amy, our Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards Manager, is honoured to have been invited to talk as part of the program of the World HOST event in several weeks time. World HOST is the first World Homestay Organisations Summit for Tourism, and we’re really excited to be part of it!

World HOST 2015 brings together for the first time, the global movement in community and homestay networks and initiatives. More than 300 delegates are expected at this inaugural summit and we are excited to host this auspicious event in the beautiful city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Why World HOST?

Emphasizing that tourism markets continually look for interesting new experiences, bespoke itineraries, and immersive activities, this Summit provides the platform for individuals, organised groups, travel and tourism planners and promoters to access locally-nuanced, culturally-engaged, individually-styled travel experiences. The breadth of opportunities is seemingly endless. At the same time, accessing community and homestay locations provides wonderful support to local enterprises and economic development for communities and to the less accessible regions.

Speakers

A full list of speakers can be found here. Amy will be joined by experts in the field of community-based tourism from all over the Asia-Pacific region! The event will provide an opportunity for delegates to meet representatives and homestay operators from across the globe, sharing knowledge and ideas, to create positive global impact through ethical tourism.

Amy will be there sharing best practice learned through our annual Awards.

Join the Event

To join the event in KL, you can register at their website here www.worldhost2015.com

Club Med Cherating – Finalist, Nature & Wildlife

FINALIST – 2015 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards, Best in Protection of Natural Areas & Wildlife Conservation

Completely integrating into the surrounding preserved environment, Club Med Cherating offers visitors an environmentally-friendly sanctuary having kept 75% of the surrounding forest completely untouched. A few of their impressive environmental initiatives include a partnership with the nearby Turtle Sanctuary and an informative botanical tour of the grounds for guests.

Since 2010 the Club Med Cherating management as implemented a sustainable development management system that enables the resort to address different sustainable tourism issues including biodiversity. As part of this system each staff member takes a turn as the Green Globe Coordinator, giving them direct management over environmental issues. Eventually most members of staff will have taken a turn as the Green Globe Coordinator.

A few of Club Med Cherating’s impressive environmental initiatives include:

Natural lagoon wastewater treatment system, which enables the resort to treat its wastewater, recycle it to be used for irrigation, and creating a biodiverse pond.
Green waste is mulched and used as soil cover.
The implementation of organic fertilizers.
A partnership with the Turtle Sanctuary to promote turtle conservation.
Environmental and wildlife education programs for children run through Mini Club Med.
Integrating a botanical tour of the resort for guests, complete with a wildlife guide book.

In the future Club Med Cherating aims to maintain their Sustainable Development Management System through yearly reviews and bi-annual on-site audits. They hope to continue improving in areas such as promoting wildlife awareness to their customers and providing more information about sustainable tourism. They also hope to develop a partnership with the local school in which employees will dedicate time to teaching English and the resort will allow their facilities to be used for sports activities.

For more information about Club Med Cherating, visit their website: http://www.clubmed.us/cm/resort-cherating-beach-malaysia_p-115-l-US-v-CHEC-ac-vh.html?CMCID=SNN179636478102

Watch their video here

2015 Responsible Tourism Awards Finalists

PATA Travel Mart has Sustainability Centre Stage – Wild Asia Awards

Now in their ninth year, the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards, has just announced their 2015 Finalists.

The Wild Asia Awards was the first of its kind to identify Asia based sustainability superstars in the travel industry, and remains the only regional responsible tourism awards. The Awards are based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Criteria, and provide a unique opportunity for tourism businesses and projects to benchmark their work against international standards. Participants also benefit from gaining third party verification from the panel of esteemed expert judges.

This September, Winners will be officially announced and celebrated at the 2015 PATA Travel Mart in Bangalore. “Sustainability is one of the main advocacy themes of the Association and an important issue to address when we talk about the responsible development of travel and tourism,” said Mario Hardy, PATA CEO. “We are therefore delighted to host the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards at this year’s Travel Mart and share in the celebration of tourism organisations that truly exemplify what it means to be sustainable. Wild Asia is a valued PATA Sustainability Partner, and a special partner of the Responsible Travel Pavilion at PTM, a space where like-minded organisations can gather, share knowledge, and build business.”

Best in Community Engagement and Development
This award recognizes exceptional commitment to supporting the local community and economy in which your business operates.

Best in Protection of Natural Areas & Wildlife Conservation
This award recognizes tourism businesses’ consideration of their local environment and biodiversity by actively supporting and protecting their natural assets.

Best in Resource Efficiency
This award recognizes excellence in waste, water and energy management and sustainable architectural design in order to minimize your business’s environmental impact.

Jetwing Yala, Sri Lanka

Most Inspiring Responsible Tourism Operator
This award recognizes the tourism operator that excels by taking into consideration all the key principles of responsible tourism (maximum positive impacts to the local community and minimum negative impacts to the environment) and awards innovation for this most inspiring tourism business of the year.

Most Inspiring Responsible Tourism Initiative
This award recognizes grass-roots initiatives championing responsible tourism within their destination.

Over the next couple of months, all Finalists will undergo further rigorous investigation to determine the 2015 Winners. During this time, thorough open-source articles will become available on the Wild Asia website for each of these businesses or projects. The aim of sharing their successes, challenges, and
lessons learned, is to inspire and influence the industry to adopt measures to become more socially and environmentally responsible.

For those wishing to join the PATA Travel Mart and celebrate alongside the winners, the deadline for applying to showcase your business at the Responsible Travel Pavilion is 30th June 2015. Full details can be found at here.

BEST Society – 2014 Finalist

BEST Society, which stands for Borneo Ecotourism Solutions and Technologies, supports rural communities in Malaysia’s Sabah establish and improve their own social enterprises, improving their quality of life through business. Moving away from charity, now the NGO focuses on capacity building in social entrepreneurship, and is increasing access to markets for cottage industry artisans.

Here’s a snapshot of some of their key achievements, and reasons why Wild Asia has identified them as one of our 2014 Finalists in the category Most Inspiring Responsible Tourism Initiative…

BEST was founded by Borneo Eco Tours, and Sukau Rainforest Lodge, as an organisation to provide welfare to communities to develop social entrepreneurship.
The objectives are promote responsible tourism, generate secondary incomes through nature tourism, education, test sustainable technologies in local setting, provide capacity building, develop code of practice for ecolodges in Sabah, multi-stakeholder dialogue and management.
As well as tree planting, health and dental camps, clean water projects and more, BEST has also delivered training to establish longhouse properties, organic farming techniques, and responsible tourism.
Liaise with community leaders and committees about setting up projects to respond to their needs.
Adopted 65 acres of riverine landscape and reforested the land, preventing soil erosion into the river and maintaining wildlife habitats.
Organised free medical camps and issued water tanks benefiting 56 families.
Around 50% of BEST activities are funded through private donations or grant funding, and the rest is generated through a sustainable financial structure via contributions from every guest at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

For more information about the BEST Society, please visit their website.

Borneo Eco Tours – 2014 Finalist

Borneo Eco Tours, based in Malaysian Borneo, has been a pioneer in responsible nature tours since 1991. Two of their most popular destinations in which they operate includes the iconic Kinabatangan River, where guests can enjoy their Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Borneo’s primates, and Kudat, which provides opportunities for guests to visit and support cottage industries along the scenic coast.

Here’s a snapshot of some of their key achievements, and reasons why Wild Asia has identified them as one of our 2014 Finalists in the category Best in Community Engagement and Development…

In 1996 Borneo Eco Tours established a non-profit foundation, BEST Society, to deliver community projects in destinations in which they operate. To date, this has included installing water tanks to villages with no access to clean water, medical and dental camps, introducing organic farming projects in rural areas, and tree planting.
They are very committed to sourcing staff locally, and pride themselves that 100% local of their team is made up of local people, including management level. Furthermore, staff have access to great benefits such as a higher than national minimum wage, medical benefits, recreation activities, allowances for overtime, and special skills training.
After more than two decades of successful business, Borneo Eco Tours shares its expertise and access to useful contacts with other budding entrepreneurs. They have been training local community members in tourism and supporting them to establish their own social enterprise. Some examples include: increasing access to markets for artisans (e.g. beaded jewellery makers, weavers, coconut oil and honey producers), sending 50 farmers on an organic farming training course, and technical support to accommodation proprietors.
As big believers in sharing their cultural heritage, many tours include visits to cottage industries which support the local economy.
To date, their operations have generated approximately $127,000 for community and environmental projects. They have achieved this by including a levy on every guest’s bill which automatically is invested into local BEST projects.

For more information about Borneo Eco Tours, please visit their website.

2014 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards: Winners

We are incredibly excited to reveal the 2014 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards Winners. The following businesses have now completed the first stage of the competition and been shortlisted from applicants from across the region.

The Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards are based on the UNWTO Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. Our categories both align with criteria in different pillars of sustainable tourism, and recognise inspirational operators.

Best in Community Engagement and Development

This award recognizes exceptional commitment to supporting the local community and economy in which your business operates.

Winner: Borneo Eco Tours, Malaysia

Based in Malaysian Borneo, Borneo Eco Tours has been a pioneer in responsible nature tours since 1991. Two of their most popular destinations in which they operate includes the iconic Kinabatangan River, where guests can enjoy their award-winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Borneo’s famed primates, and Kudat, which provides opportunities for guests to visit and support cottage industries (supported by their partner NGO, BEST) along the scenic coast.

Finalists: Reality Tours & Travel, India; Village Ways, India

Best in Cultural Preservation

This award recognizes engagement and efforts by tourism businesses in preserving, enhancing and promoting local cultures and heritage.

Winner: Ock Pop Tok, Laos

Ock Pop Tok is located in the stunning UNESCO town of Luang Prabang in Laos. For the past 15 years they have been working to cultivate and preserve Laos’ textile heritage through sustainable tourism. Today, they have visitor accommodation, a Living Arts Centre, retail outlets and a restaurant – all where visitors can enjoy the colourful textures as rich as Laotian culture.

Finalist: Andaman Discoveries, Thailand

Most Inspiring Responsible Tourism Initiative

This award recognizes grass-roots initiatives championing responsible tourism within their destination.

Winner: ChildSafe Network (Friends International), Cambodia

The ChildSafe Network, delivered by Friends-International, is helping to protect vulnerable children in tourism destinations across Cambodia and other parts of South East Asia. Their 7 Tips for Travellers helps tourists make the right choices in responsible travel to advocate child safety. Beyond that, they’re also working behind the scenes to get children off the streets through vocational training, supporting their parents through jobs, and generating funding and employment through social ventures.

Finalist: BEST Society, Malaysia

The Dusun – from family retreat to nature resort

It began as a simple retreat from the city for a family. In 1984, Helen put an ad in the Malay Mail to purchase a rural lot. Walking through a rubber smallholding in Negeri Sembilan, she looked out to the Mantin hills and fell in love…

All the rubber trees were removed and durian seedlings were planted by Helen, David and their five children. Lovingly developed over the years, the family always referred to their home as the Dusun, or the Orchard. When it became apparent that others love the Dusun as much as they did, Helen and David decided to turn it into a nature resort in 2009.

So being environmentally friendly and socially fair was never a business decision, it has always been the way in which they nurture our land and environment. It has always been the way we treat our neighbours and friends.

The Dusun honours sustainable development in farming and building, which has created a beautiful and healthy environment. Starting with two houses, the Dusun expanded one house at a time to only five houses. Each house is unique, studying the use of different locally found materials and building techniques. All houses are placed to catch the winds that come down the valley and up the little hill. Ventilation and placement of doors, windows, carvings and fans ensure comfort without the use of air-conditioning.

Committed to supporting the local community, the family has maintained a good relationship with their neighbours. The business only hires from nearby kampungs, and are careful about staff hours and pay fair wages that increase with increasing skill, responsibility or time with us. Employees can benefit from support with official matters like banking and EPF etc. There are also interest free loans available for motorbikes and computers.

Our staff are like our family – we trust them, respect them and do what we can to build their confidence.

Despite a small team, purchases impact the community too. As much as possible purchases are made in the local kampong; most of the food shopping is from the wet market and cleaning detergents are from other responsible businesses.

Activities are designed to raise awareness of Malaysia’s beautiful natural heritage and support local traditions, communities and NGOs. The jungle is guided by a neighbor who has been a hunter gatherer all his life, and all proceeds are kept by the guide. Guests can also enjoy a Bird Discovery Walk, whose proceeds go to Bird Conservation Council at Malaysian Nature Society. on the Dusun is surprising to some, but it is designed for those who enjoy fresh air, lush greenery, jungle views, lingering meals with loved ones, peaceful strolls and the wonderfully uncoordinated orchestra of the birds, crickets and frogs.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge – Most Inspiring Accommodation

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his post congratulates Sukau Rainforest Lodge for being recognized as a 2013 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards Finalist. This award recognizes the accommodation provider that excels in all of the above categories by taking into consideration all the key principles of responsible tourism (maximum positive impacts to the local community and minimum negative impacts to the environment) and awards innovation for this most inspiring accommodation of the year.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge nestles on the banks of one of Borneo’s most important waterways, the Kinabatangan River, home to many of Borneo’s magnificent wildlife. Sukau Rainforest Lodge offers the rare comfort and luxury in the midst of the Borneo Rainforest whilst retaining an Eco-Lodge ethos, the delicate balance of true sustainability.

Our favourite things about them!

Uses external experts to assist/advise on compliance issues.
Makes a significant contribution – mostly at own expense – to promoting benefits of sustainable tourism practice and ecotourism in Borneo and wider afield.
Consistent efforts to educate tourists and the industry about ecotourism for over a decade through different media and techniques.
Commitment to partnership and multi-stakeholder approach (e.g. set up association). Several international awards.
Active conservation and environmental practices – supporting KiTA, projects through BEST Society, etc. The BEST Society, of which the Founder is also the chair man has implemented lots of projects, which are reported annually and available to learn about online on the best website. It’s a great achievement to have raised over 1 million RM on community projects.
Good wages and welfare to staff. Weekly team meetings addressing staff’s personal development, supporting staff training opportunities – internal and external.
Wheelchair accessible.
Great interpretation practices to inform and educate guests.
Feedback from community leaders.
Responsible wildlife viewing practices.

Inspiring Management

Internal environmental and social impact assessments delivered.
Guests receive information on sustainable tourism through own personal booklet.
Work with compliance team to maintain legal compliance, work with NGOs (e.g. WWF) and specialist to monitor environmental aspects.
Weekly staff meetings to share personal development, some staff sent for training, H&S for all staff twice a year.
Some rooms and all public areas have wheelchair accessibility.
MD is advisor to International Ecotourism Society board and speaks at events on responsible tourism.
1997 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award.
World Travel Awards 2010 Winner for Best Asia Green Hotel award.
Voted the top 50 best eco-lodges by National Geographic, 2009.

Community Engagement and Development

Provide opportunity for guests to vists local’s house, money goes direct to family, to learn about local culture.
Helped form KiTA, local tourism association, and its conservation levy scheme. Raised over RM1million to date through own and sister company, spent on community/conservation projects.
Provided 50 water tanks to local community.
Organised 3 medical camps, bringing doctor and dentist to local area.
School visits site twice a year to learn about conservation.
53% local workforce, 40% of management are local people.
Hire local contractors, e.g. boat men or maintenance staff.
Provide internship opportunities for local people.
Policy to protect female staff, anyone who does not follow is immediately terminated and reported to police.
Newly constructed staff quarters, provide very good and better than other local standards of living.
Above minimum wage with other opportunities, e.g. share tips or night cruise fees.
Meet on ad hoc basis with community leaders and at times when delivering local projects.

Cultural Preservation

Do and Don’t provided by leaflet.
Design based on local style, reducing impact to trees, constructed by locals with as many local materials as possible.
All guests have to wear traditional sarung to dinner to immerse in local culture.
Sell regional crafts in the shop.

Resource Efficiency

Use of solar for water heating.
Avoid dependency on electricity by using e.g. kerosene lamps on walkways.
Inform guests about reducing energy and water through info in rooms.
Water from rain water harvesting and from river (treated) in dry season.
Water saving: toilets and showers.
Recently improved waste water management with new septic tanks installed.
All waste including recyclable taken offsite.
Performed risk assessment (2007) to identify risks from chemicals and have taken actions to prevent.

Protection of Natural Areas and Wildlife Conservation

Evening presentations and talks from naturalists to educate guests on conservation.
First business in area to get solar, set buildings back from river, electric motor on river cruises, wildlife guidelines and have waste management scheme.
Has tree planting programme aimed at carbon offsetting.
Guests told to reduce noise after 9pm.
80.8% area left undeveloped. All flora on site are native.
Funded river clean up through KiTA, reforestation and rehabilitated hornbills, pangolin, and an owl at the lodge.
Boardwalk design allows for elephants to move across.

‘Most Inspiring Responsible Tourism Accommodation Provider’ Award is sponsored by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia.

Frangipani Langkawi Resport, Malaysia – Resource Efficiency

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his post congratulates Frangipani Langkawi Resort and Spa for being recognized as a 2013 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards Finalist. This award recognizes excellence in waste, water and energy management and sustainable architectural design in order to minimize your business’s environmental impact.

This secluded and eco-friendly resort is situated on a 400-metre stretch of soft golden sand along Pantai Tengah, southwest of Langkawi. All 117 rooms, villas and suites are spacious, tastefully decorated to provide a calm feeling and relaxed atmosphere. Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa is the first resort in Langkawi to implement Green practices to preserve the environment.

Our favourite things about them!

Good practices to reduce and recycle waste. Onsite recycling centre.
60% renewable energy and good practices to monitor energy usage, actively working to reduce consumption of electricity.
Good water saving measures.
In-house environmental education department.
Eco-walks to engage guests in environmental issues; exceptional and very commendable effort.
The awards they have received are recent and specifically for green hotels / environment.
Long track record in sustainable tourism practices in Malaysia.
‘Walks the talk’ when it comes to responsible and sustainable tourism approaches.

Inspiring Management

PATA Grand Awards 2012 Environmental Education
ASEAN Green Hotel Awards 2011
2010 Winner ASEANTA Best Conservation Effort
Virgin RT Awards Large Accommodation Highly Recommended
Claims to be the only hotel in Malaysia that has Environment & Education Department that monitors the progress of resource efficiency and trains staff and the public.

Resource Efficiency

Recyclable items sold to the recycle contractor (paper, aluminium cans, tins plastic bottles).
Organic waste is processed into compost and is measured. Fish and chicken intestines are buried as fertilizers near fruit trees. Fruit peels are processed as enzyme which is cleaning agent.
Items that can be recycled in house are used for e.g wine bottles are used as feature wall, lamp and vases. Engage guests with recycling agenda by showing staff do glass painting.
60% renewable energy.
Monitor and report all energy use.
Inform guests about reducing energy through info in rooms and lobby, and eco-walks.
99 politanks (4,000 litres) for rainwater harvesting; 77 water container for air-conditioner water harvesting to water plants and clean public area.
Every month comparisons are made on water consumption, made known to staff to get their support on water conservation.
Target: 10 % decrease in water consumption for year 2103 is relayed to all staff for their contribution to achieve.

Protection of Natural Areas and Wildlife Conservation

Each department has own Green practices including the Purchasing in Accounts and Maintenance with the Environment Department monitoring all departments adhere to the rules and regulations pertaining to Green Practices.
Pesticide, insecticide and fungicide are processed in house using neem leaves.
Salt water pool use rock salt which uses less chlorine.
Grow morning glory to prevent beach erosion.

Scuba Junkie, Malaysia – Protection of Natural Areas & Wildlife

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]his post congratulates Scuba Junkie for being recognized as a 2013 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards Winner. This award recognizes tourism businesses’ consideration of their local environment and biodiversity by actively supporting and protecting their natural assets.

Scuba Junkie provides daily dive trips to more than 25 islands in the Celebes Sea in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Whether you want macro diving at Mabul and Kapalai or wish to dive with sharks and turtles at Sipadan Island (frequently voted in the top 10 dives sites in the world) Scuba Junkie will take you there.

Our favourite things about them!

Good resource efficiency, educating guests, supports local projects.
Good environmental practices such as solar energy, sewage and grey water treatment, pollution control, native landscaping, etc.
Good practices and staff engagement in beach cleanups, reef cleanup dives, etc.
Full-time environmental officer.
Initiatives to reduce emissions such as boat/transfer sharing.
Efforts to reduce stress on reef areas frequented by divers.
Exemplary education / awareness raising, solar power, $70,000 spent on waste cleaning, best available sewage treatment, reef check, turtle hatchery, no seafood (wow!) and dive against debris.
Makes a worthwhile contribution to marine animal and coastal area conservation.
Has a strong commitment to sustainable tourism practices.

Inspiring Management

2012 Winner Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards ‘Best in Protection of Natural Areas and/or Wildlife Conservation’

Community Engagement and Development

Access to local communities remains open around the resort.
Staff, guests and local community are engaged in e.g. beach cleans, school projects.
Each year spend around $70,000 supporting local waste removal scheme for local community who do not have government support (Bajau Laut community “sea gypsies”) = 150 bins and 10 skips.

Resource Efficiency

Use solar energy for water heating but aware of need to explore other options, in discussion with consultants about improving energy efficiency and use of fuels.
Recycle area for staff and guests in restaurant.
Approximately 80% of products used are biodegradable and are actively looking for ways to improve.

Protection of Natural Areas and Wildlife Conservation

All land rights and environmental regulations are adhered to.
Buildings from 60m off the hide tide line to allow access, preserve sea grass and protect nesting turtles.
Guests provided with information on local customs and environment through compulsory welcome briefing, sign boards and information in their rooms.
Weekly presentations on shark conservation and sea turtles, pressures and importance are discussed. Also similar at expos, for government, local and international media. To date, hundreds to presentations on the topic.
Best available sewage treatment plant, Grade A with hydroponic system to water plants with output water and sludge drying beds. Nothing raw released into sea.
Grease traps in kitchen and grey water processed via onsite Biosolv treatment plant.
Weekly ‘Dive against Debris’ cleans up, non-recyclable waste taken to mainland and managed by government body.
Have an environmental area in communal part of resort, TV runs showing their achievements and how guests can play a part.
Chair Mabul Marine week event and run the Mabul Turtle Hatchery, managed by trained staff and supported by community ‘rangers’. Last year, hatched thousands of eggs.
Do not use chemical on gardens (use native plants) to prevent run off into sea.
Use low level lighting on jetty to reduce light pollution.
Employ a full time Environment Officer (and two Marine Biologists) to engage staff and guests with issues; all staff trained in environmental practices.
Do not serve any seafood because none available locally that is sourced sustainably.
All dive guides have excellent reputation for providing ‘do and don’t’ in briefings.
Certified reef check dive centre, have a reef check trainer and provide eco dive master courses.
Advise Semporna Shark Sanctuary (aim to protect wider Sipadan area and reefs) and support the Manta Trust.

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