The Malaysian hospitality industry took a significant step towards
shaping the future of Malaysian tourism with the launch last week of the
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Certification for hotels
and resorts in Pealing Jaya. This pioneering initiative is a
collaborative effort between the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH),
SGS Malaysia and Saimatrix Intergrated.
Endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the
ESG Certification for Hotels & Resorts provides clear guidelines and
a comprehensive, measurable checklist for sustainable tourism
practices. By adopting these standards, hotels and resorts can operate
in an environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and well-governed
manner, aligning with Malaysia’s 2030 vision for sustainable tourism.
“This certification is designed to set a new standard in sustainable
practices and become a benchmark within our industry, aligning perfectly
with Malaysia’s National Tourism Policy of 2020-2030,” said Datin
Christina Toh, president, Malaysian Association of Hotels.
With over 1,000 member hotels, Chritina hopes to inspire properties
to adopt the ESG certification for best practice and strengthen
Malaysia’s reputation as a leading eco-friendly destination.
The National Tourism Policy (DPN) 2020-2030 aims to revitalise
Malaysia's tourism industry with a focus on Competitiveness,
Sustainability and Inclusiveness. Aligned with the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), this policy seeks to position
Malaysia as a top ecotourism destination globally and secure a spot
among the world's top 10 tourism destinations in arrivals and receipts.
Dr Balan Balasundram, managing director of Saimatrix Integrated,
explained the process, “We begin with educating all staff and personnel
of hotels and resorts on the fundamentals of ESG. We know some hotels
have started their own processes, such as energy saving, waste
management, etc. We will guide properties to ensure these are aligned
with the UNSDGs criteria, tracking their progress and get them ready for
certification by SGS Malaysia.” The entire process, he said, will take
between eight to 12 months with certification validity of three years.
SGS and MAH will release the cost and training structure at a later
date. For now, costs will depend on the number of rooms, categorised
into low, medium, and high-capacity hotels.
To support hotels and resorts on this ESG journey, a series of free
webinars will be held on July 10-11th and 17-18th. These webinars will
provide deeper insight into the certification process, clarify its
significance, and demonstrate the tangible benefits of participation.