Tourism drives conservation and restoration efforts in Malaysia


Marriott Bonvoy and BMOUIF collaborate on an orang utan conservation campaign. — Handout

Guests staying at Marriott Bonvoy properties in Malaysia can be proud contributors to the country’s orang utan conservation efforts.

Marriott Bonvoy has collaborated with the Bukit Merah Orang Utan Island Foundation (BMOUIF) to launch a nationwide campaign that supports the protection of endangered orang utan.

Called "A Story That Matters: Uniting Hospitality and Conservation for a Better Future", the campaign combines Marriott Bonvoy's hospitality platform with the decades of expertise in orang utan conservation by BMOUIF in order to raise awareness about the endangered species.

Through the campaign, which falls under Marriott International's sustainability and social impact platform, "Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction", guests can learn more about Orang Utan Island.

It is at this unique wildlife destination that Aggy, a young Bornean orang utan orphaned shortly after birth, found an adoptive mother – made possible by BMOUIF’s notable conservation work.

Aggy’s heartwarming story is highlighted in the #AStoryThatMatters social media campaign. 

Marriott Bonvoy members are entitled to special admission rates to Orang Utan Island. 

Guests at Marriott Bonvoy hotels can also contribute directly to the conservation efforts via the QR code donation touchpoints available across the hotels.

More information about the campaign can be found at marriott.com.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has recently completed its 10,000-tree commitment under the EcoGreen Planet initiative.

The remarkable feat was successfully achieved ahead of the Rainforest World Music Festival’s (RWMF) 30th anniversary in 2027.

"Completing our 10,000-tree commitment ahead of this landmark celebration reinforces our responsibility to protect the natural environment that has always been central to RWMF’s identity," STB chairman Datuk Dennis Ngau said in a press statement.

Under EcoGreen Planet, a five-year collaboration between STB and the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), approximately 3,800 mangrove seedlings have been planted at Rajang Mangrove National Park.

Established in 2023, the initiative supports the greening and carbon-offset commitments of STB's flagship events: the Borneo Jazz Festival and RWMF.

The 2026 restoration effort at Rajang Mangrove National Park – focusing on a site affected by illegal clearing between 2020 and 2021 – was supported through a portion of RWMF ticket sales and contributions from RWMF corporate sponsors.

The initiative, which aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action, shows that tourism can contribute directly towards environmental restoration – creating a positive legacy beyond the festival grounds.

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