The Government of Malaysia has set out ambitious goals for sustainable tourism as part of its Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021-2025,
particularly focusing on revitalizing the tourism sector. The midterm review of this plan identified key challenges, including slow adoption of technology and outdated regulations. It
also emphasized the need for promoting Malaysia as a premier nature-based tourism destination and minimizing the environmental impact on sensitive ecotourism sites. UNDP in Malaysia,
Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam collaborates closely with the Ministry of Finance to design and implement sustainable development solutions targeting marginalized communities. In the
2022 budget, UNDP was allocated MYR 14 million for initiatives aimed at creating safe tourism and restoration activities in specific regions. UNDP is currently working on two
projects: the Sustainable Tourism Recovery Project and Integrated Island Waste Management. Previous projects, such as the Orang Asli/Asal Microgrant Facility, have supported
initiatives for indigenous communities. The Green Resilient and Recovery Facility is also in progress, exploring just transition models based on renewable energy solutions.
Malaysias tourism sector is a significant contributor to its GDP, but the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact, resulting in job
losses and reduced revenue. With travel restrictions easing, tourism is recovering rapidly, presenting an opportunity for a sustainable and resilient model. One crucial aspect is
managing waste in tourist destinations. The surge in human activity and overcrowding places immense pressure on waste treatment and ecosystem restoration. Malaysias marine
biodiversity and ecosystems have immense economic value, including fisheries, eco-tourism, coastal protection, and climate regulation. Therefore, restoring these ecosystems is vital
for halting degradation, enhancing ecosystem services, and preserving biodiversity. The successful project "Sustainable Tourism and Integrated Island Waste Management" is primed for
scale-up, with strong partnerships and localized implementation. UNDP and the Malaysian government aim to expand these interventions to other islands and communities, focusing on
income generation, waste management, sustainable tourism, and marine ecosystem restoration. Performance-based payments to local entities and private resort operators will be a
cornerstone of this approach, aligning with agreed criteria and targets. In conclusion, Malaysia is committed to promoting sustainable tourism, and UNDP is actively engaged in
advancing this agenda through collaborative efforts and projects aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector while safeguarding the environment and local communities.
Therefore, the consultancy entails leading data collection, stakeholder engagement, and mapping for proposed sites in Malaysia,
developing a comprehensive UNDP-aligned Project Document with a focus on gender equality, and conducting risk assessment and creating associated documents in compliance with UNDP
standards.