Ecotourism: Sipadan, Bornéo - Malaysia

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How Tourism Affect Malaysian Islands

Malaysia is blessed with marvelous beach paradises found off the coast of Terengganu and Sabah. To name a few, Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Sipadan, etc. Tourists have flocked to these retreats to enjoy the crystal clear water and to experience the beauty of marine life there.

It was hoped that with the revenue generated from eco-tourism, the authorities can better conserve those precious coral reefs and marine flora and fauna found in the ocean. Yet, lackadaisical management and public ignorance had brought more harm to the waters than good.

1. Rubbish
While numerous attempts have been made to reduce the amount of rubbish, there is still no clear ways to stop people from littering the beach. Rubbish piles like this are not uncommon in island beaches and imagine what will happen if a few of these plastic bottles get washed to seawaters? Marine life swimming around the reefs will be at tremendous risk.

2. Oil Leaks
Water taxi operators do not operate using hand paddles, they use gasoline engines. For such old model water taxis found on Pulau Tioman, oil leaks and spills should be very common. A layer of dark oil on the surface not only spoils the appearance of the water, but also gives off a foul smell. The suspended diesel might also affect marine birds, which are essential in keeping the natural equilibrium of the marine food chain.

3. Beachfront Hotel Construction
Construction of beachfront hotels might not look hostile to the environment, but too often in order to compete among each other, beachfront resorts restructure the waterfront land, converting them into lounges or diving platforms. The landscaping definitely affect the natural habitats of the marine wildlife.

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