The Malaysia Scuba Diving Association (MSDA) is ready to serve as a strategic partner to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) and relevant government agencies to strengthen the country’s marine tourism and conservation sectors following allocations announced under Budget 2027.
MSDA president Aminor Azmi Abdul Latip said it aims to play an active role in policy planning, industry development, safety standards, regulatory compliance, human capital development and tourism promotion.
He said the increased development allocation under Budget 2027 would serve as a catalyst for stronger strategic cooperation between the government and industry stakeholders to protect Malaysia’s marine heritage while ensuring that economic benefits were shared equitably among coastal communities.
"Marine tourism development must go hand in hand with safety, industry professionalism, the well-being of local communities and environmental sustainability.
"The success of tourism development should not be measured solely by visitor arrivals, but also by the economic opportunities created and our ability to preserve marine heritage for future generations," he said in a statement.
Industry estimates by MSDA show that Malaysia has over 800 companies involved in marine-based tourism and a scuba diving community of approximately 500,000 people.
Aminor Azmi also highlighted six key proposals previously submitted to Motac for serious consideration, including the establishment of the National Recreational Scuba Diving Safety Council to oversee safety standards, risk management and regulatory compliance.
He stressed the need to improve safety and service quality through higher professional standards and stricter enforcement of dive guide licensing requirements, while proposing an expanded role for MSDA in scuba diving promotion through dive festivals, photography contests and international marketing initiatives.
On infrastructure and sustainable tourism governance, he called for upgrades to jetties, including the separation of passenger and cargo movements, as well as managing visitor carrying capacities at Pulau Tenggol and Pulau Bidong in Terengganu, Labuan and emerging destinations in Sabah to prevent overtourism.
For human capital development, he proposed that Motac collaborate with other ministries related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to establish a National Scuba Diving Academy offering skills training, safety education and career pathways for youth.
He said joint marine conservation efforts should also be expanded, with a focus on coral reef protection, ghost net management, pollution control and public environmental awareness. – Bernama
