By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, Feb 2: Local tourism players have been urged to collaborate and communicate with academicians to develop the tourism industry in a sustainable manner.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hoped that industry players can work together with researchers to build up the tourism industry for the benefit of all stakeholders.
“I really hope that the communication and collaboration between the academics and the industry players as well as between the locals and internationals will be further reinforced to upgrade our knowledge and accenture our practice with regard to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and responsible tourism.
“More importantly, by pulling our minds together through continual discourse and publications, by opening ourselves to one another to learn and work together, we can put tourism into practice in a responsible and sustainable manner.
“It is not just about recovering our tourism activities, rather it is more about building it back better and making tourism beneficial to all stakeholders, including the tourism and hospitality sectors and the local community,” he said in his speech during the first Journal of Responsible Tourism Management (JRTM) Forum in conjunction with its inaugural publication at UCSI Hotel here today.
The first issue of JRTM which consisted of seven articles from Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and Japan was published by Sarawak Research Society and the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management of UCSI University Sarawak Campus with the support of Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
Abdul Karim also noted that there were more than 50 editorial board members from over 20 countries involved in the processing of JRTM.
Meanwhile, UCSI University Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor Emeritus Professor Dr Phang Siew Moi said scholar’s publications are important as it was an excellent means to communicate the latest discovery and development as well as provide future prospects to students.
She noted journals are reliable resources which can be referred to by researchers, policymakers and the public for decision making.
Specifically, Phang said JRTM provided holistic views, findings, and practical implications for the benefit of readers and the community on the tourism industry.
Among those present at the inaugural JRTM Forum were Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Sebastian Ting, Tourism, Arts and Culture permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee and UCSI University Sarawak Campus chief operating officer Mukvinder Sandhu Kaur. — DayakDaily
