ITB Berlin News 2020 #1

I RESPONSIBLE TOURISM I
Penan villagers, Mulu, Sarawak
Tourism as a cause
for good
The Malaysian state of Sarawak
has underlined its dedication to a
"sustainable future".
As often stated by the former Secretary-
General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, tourism
can and should be a force for good. In
Sarawak, this is very much the case, as every
person who visitors Sarawak’s national
parks and protected areas and pays fees
contributes to the upkeep of these fragile
forests – much of them pristine primary
growth – and protects the unique wildlife
that lives within them.
Some local tour operators also offer the
chance for visitors to become involved in
reforestation initiatives. Park buffer zones
are extremely important in increasing the
available habitat for wildlife, so by extending
the forest cover this further helps in
protecting the wildlife.
Huge steps are being made across the
state to conserve and manage Sarawak’s
valuable and unique forests. In addition to
some 800,000 hectares of Totally Protected
Areas (TPAs) that are off-limit to logging
companies, large areas of land classed as
“terrain 4” (steep and hilly) areas, “High
Conservation Value Forests”, buffer zones
and verified “Native Customary Rights” land
remain pristine.
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS
WORLD HERITAGE STATUS
In November 2020, Mulu National Park in
Sarawak celebrates its 20th anniversary of
being named one of only 20 World Heritage
sites in the world that qualify for a total of
four world heritage criteria. These are:
Superlative beauty – mountains, combined
with huge river systems, a tropical rainforest
and huge caves. The earth’s history and geo
features are evident in the gigantic caves
and the Pinnacles. Visitors appreciate the
biodiversity and ecological processes when
adventure trekking or just strolling along the
botany trails.
MEETING THE LOCALS –
ORANG ULU, THE UPRIVER
PEOPLE
From the river-based Berawan tribes of
Long Terawan to the now settling Penan in
the villages of Batu Bungan and Long Iman:
these are the Mulu locals and they play an
integral part in the affairs of Mulu National
Park. These villages are also made accessible
for tourists to visit, specifically to enjoy the
local handicraft market and of course to try
their hand at the weapon of choice – the
blowpipe!
River at Mulu
The declared initiative by Sarawak's state
government to pursue responsible tourism
underpins the importance of other moves
that had already been initiated by the state
authorities to protect forests and wildlife.
16 ITB BERLIN NEWS 01 • WEDNESDAY 4 TH MARCH 2020
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