Adopting Sustainable Practices at an Island Ecotourism Destination in Sabah through a Sea Turtle Conservation Project

Summary

This case centres on the sustainable ecotourism practices carried out on Libaran Island, Malaysia, through a sea turtle conservation project called the Walai Penyu Conservation Park. This widely recognised and award-winning project was launched and led by an ecotourism practitioner in collaboration with the island community, supported by governmental and non-governmental organisations. The project’s sustainable approaches have had significant positive impacts on the islands’ economy, environment, society, and culture. Among these impacts are the transformation of Libaran Island into an ecotourism destination, the preservation and promotion of local culture, and the generation of income for islanders through tourism job opportunities, village tour services, and handicraft sales. The project also enriches the pristine island environment by keeping its beaches clean, promoting recycling, and conserving endangered marine species (i.e., green turtles and hawksbill turtles). In summary, the project embodies the concept of sustainability and underscores the strong, interdependent relationships among the tourism industry, island communities, government agencies and NGOs.